Our co-captain Nathan Jones looked out of sorts last night, errors galore, lacking in leadership. A shadow of his former self. 

Poor decisions, hesitation and not going the first option. Just 2 i50s, 2 clearances and a paltry 2 tackles. Just 19 possessions. 

The whips are cracking in the run home, teams and individuals - particularly leaders - are standing up across the comp. 

Jones is certainly not passed it, he may have a niggle I’m unaware of, but when you cross the line and play lots of minutes - as a captain - fans and the team rely on leadership, good decision making.

He lowered his colours last night and we’ll need him to turn up in the last 6 weeks without J.Viney - to make a serious play in September ... otherwise they’ll along with the fans will be booking holidays for September.

 

 

 

 

Just few weeks ago we were lauding the bloke. 10 minutes is a long time in football.

Jonesy now has some backup and does not have to carry the team now. Let him enjoy the ride.

Ring up Gus and ask him if Jonesy is stuffed.

2 minutes ago, dimmy said:

Just few weeks ago we were lauding the bloke. 10 minutes is a long time in football.

Jonesy now has some backup and does not have to carry the team now. Let him enjoy the ride.

Ring up Gus and ask him if Jonesy is stuffed.

He’s lucky Oliver, Gus lifted in the 3rd along with Gawn - the future. 

To be a top 4 team, they need to be more clinical, methodical and efficient under pressure. Jones wilted like Autumn when under pressure last night. Simple, we need more from him starting next week v Geelong.

30 minutes ago, dimmy said:

Just few weeks ago we were lauding the bloke. 10 minutes is a long time in football.

Jonesy now has some backup and does not have to carry the team now. Let him enjoy the ride.

Ring up Gus and ask him if Jonesy is stuffed.

To be fair more than a few have noted his mixed affect on games. For all his undeniable effort he can be as much a liability as he is able soldier.

Mr Tall Building is not alone in his concerns.

I believe he had three tackles. We’re just not as dependant on him as we once were. Averaging 26 disposals this season and over 4 tackles. He’s going alright. 

Edited July 15, 20186 yr by Ethan Tremblay

He has always been a one-way runner that goes through the motions. In a poor side he stood out because he was the only one that won contested ball, clearances, and disposals. For many years, some here have lauded his commitment and effort. You cannot question either. However, he has always been a limited albeit serviceable player. He is very much our Richie Vandenberg equivalent: a favourite son, stuck around in bad times and helped with the transition into a new era.

I would argue he is still comfortably top 22 on experience and opposition knowledge alone: even when not at his best as yesterday, he is still serviceable, and opposition teams are still wary of his potential. His trade value would have been at its highest in 2015, but has now reached the point of no return and will likely play out his career at Melbourne. TBH I think he would struggle to crack a spot in the midfield of any current top 8 side.

Edited July 15, 20186 yr by praha

I still believe that the co - skip would make a damaging HFFlanker

Bugg for Viney

Kent for Hannan

I'm picking Bugg as he has the aerobic capacity to be a midfielder

 

 

9 minutes ago, praha said:

He has always been a one-way runner that goes through the motions. In a poor side he stood out because he was the only one that won contested ball, clearances, and disposals. For many years, some here have lauded his commitment and effort. You cannot question either. However, he has always been a limited albeit serviceable player. He is very much our Richie Vandenberg equivalent: a favourite son, stuck around in bad times and helped with the transition into a new era.

I would argue he is still comfortably top 22 on experience and opposition knowledge alone: even when not at his best as yesterday, he is still serviceable, and opposition teams are still wary of his potential. His trade value would have been at its highest in 2015, but has now reached the point of no return and will likely play out his career at Melbourne. TBH I think he would struggle to crack a spot in the midfield of any current top 8 side.

Tough calls needed soon, ala Petrie, Boomer and Firrito

Might be worth playing him forward. 

Midfield is too hot for Jones now, it will only get hotter from now on....

Edited July 15, 20186 yr by Sir Why You Little

8 minutes ago, jumbo returns said:

I still believe that the co - skip would make a damaging HFFlanker

Bugg for Viney

Kent for Hannan

I'm picking Bugg as he has the aerobic capacity to be a midfielder

 

 

A lot on here won't like it, but Bugg should have been in before a couple already, always has a crack, and usually creates a few shots on goal for himself. just need him to kick straight.

5 minutes ago, jumbo returns said:

Tough calls needed soon, ala Petrie, Boomer and Firrito

We could pull a North and announce his retirement after round 23 on the eve of finals. I reckon Jones has a few years left in him and as others stated will move to the half forward flank. 

Jones has never been able to hit the side of a barn and is only captain cause there was no-one else.
One of the 1st to go missing "when the whips are cracking" so don't expect much on the run home.

One of my all time favs.  When the siren went last night I saw a player very relieved to hear it, rather than any sort of jubilation.  Maybe that's just Jonesy but have to say he doesn't look his normal self and was running at about half his usual capacity from what I could see.

Maybe a week off managed or two to freshen him up for the last few games and hopefully finals.  The boys and club will get around him anyway I'm sure.

Like a few others on here I think it might not hirt to play him in more of a HF role from here.  Tracc and Harmes the ones to come in and replace slowly in the mid field role.

Edited July 15, 20186 yr by Rusty Nails

4 minutes ago, loges said:

A lot on here won't like it, but Bugg should have been in before a couple already, always has a crack, and usually creates a few shots on goal for himself. just need him to kick straight.

There's only one on here who doesn't like it and his sycophantic posters 'like' everything he posts, despite the fact that he spruiks shite most of the time

A problem being...how would you drop a captain ?

14 minutes ago, jumbo returns said:

Tough calls needed soon, ala Petrie, Boomer and Firrito

Hmm they were all older and more experienced than Jones is currently though. I would imagine that should we not play Finals this year, or really struggle next year, it may well be his last contract.

I'm glad this topic has been raised.

I've watched him enough to recognise that he is not impacting games, not leading from the front and unable to hit the scoreboard.

He looks slow and out of sorts; a little lost out there - I believe he has reached his use by date.

Presents a small problem with no Viney to be captain though.

 

5 minutes ago, doug williams said:

I'm glad this topic has been raised.

I've watched him enough to recognise that he is not impacting games, not leading from the front and unable to hit the scoreboard.

He looks slow and out of sorts; a little lost out there - I believe he has reached his use by date.

Presents a small problem with no Viney to be captain though.

 

I think his inability to hit a target ('teammate') is a bigger concern. 

His performance has always been overinflated due to how terrible we've been. Now that he has somewhat decent players around and a couple of midfield jets, in Oliver and Brayshaw, his true skill and worth is merely viewable. 

Genuinely have similar thoughts on Viney. He's a terrible user of the ball and seems to lack many footy smarts. If he wasn't blessed with the surname he is, I doubt many supporters would have the love and devotion to him that we currently see. 

15 minutes ago, loges said:

A lot on here won't like it, but Bugg should have been in before a couple already, always has a crack, and usually creates a few shots on goal for himself. just need him to kick straight.

That's the problem for Bugg isn't it ?  He cannot kick straight on a regular basis.  30-40m out directly in front & he is about a 30% chance.

You cannot play forward unless you can nail those.   Bugg's future is as a run with player or maybe a defender.

 

& 

Worst I’ve seen him play but deserves to be cut some slack.

9 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

That's the problem for Bugg isn't it ?  He cannot kick straight on a regular basis.  30-40m out directly in front & he is about a 30% chance.

You cannot play forward unless you can nail those.   Bugg's future is as a run with player or maybe a defender.

 

& 

That is his problem but I seem to recall him kicking 4 against North wasn't it. Would rather have a player that creates chances than some who go missing.

This is a tough one.

Whatever happens with Nate as he moves into his twilight has to be handled with sensitivity while maintaining the club's integrity and sticking to its long term goals.

Clearly we have gotten a LOT better with transitioning blokes off the list since PJ came on board and I hope that this happens when Nate's time inevitably comes.

35 minutes ago, jumbo returns said:

Tough calls needed soon, ala Petrie, Boomer and Firrito

Those guys were all still playing AFL grade footy - North were trying to help correct the age imbalance on their list, ie push it in the direction of youth to avoid severe pain down the track once they decided they weren’t a premiership threat. We’re still on the youthful side of perfect when it comes to that balance, although we are approaching thr sweet spot now, so there is no need for us to start cutting away experience that still has some meat on the bones at this stage. I expect Jones to be around for another 4 years at least.

Players like Vince who are clearly now on the slippery slope are a different story, but I wouldn’t put that in the category of “tough call”.

Jones across half back to replace either Lewie or Bernie. He's been overtaken in the midfield. If we land Gaff or another quality mid next year, Jones' may be better used on a flank.

Having said that, he's averaging 24 and 4 tackles this year. He might turn around and have a few blinders in lead up to finals just to put us doubters back in our place

He was clearly either injured or sick.  Get off his back!