8 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Of course he is. He has been part of the club since 2006. I don’t blame just Jones, but he is part of what has gone down

In your opinion. 

1 minute ago, hemingway said:

In your opinion. 

Absolutely. I am just one shareholder

But don’t make Jones a protected species

Once again, I think some are confusing the points here.

The consistent line is Jones was the only one who tried hard every week, but he was surrounded by players who weren't good enough.

When Roos got to the club he did an interview on the MFC website that discussed how Jones would play easy footy, the handballs out the back, the long kicks to no one. Nathan himself has admitted that he improved and became a better player under Roos, winning the BnF in 2014. Our list was ordinary again that year. Since then, others have gone past him.

Some posters who I respect are also suggesting Jones is being judged merely for poor form this year. When I talk about his leadership qualities onfield, I am referring to his entire body of work.

It's Jones' leadership credentials that I would debate the most. Neitz was a guy who could turn a game. He was no Franklin or Judd or Ablett, but he was capable of turning games. Jones has rarely, if ever, turned games. That's just fact. If there's evidence to the contrary, people would be able to point to this.

22 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

I am 100% sure Jones is a great leader in the changeroom, in the gym and during training, but he rarely imposes himself on a game. That’s the bottom line. I am sure he wants to, but it just doesn’t happen. 

Was he involved in the 3rd Quarter Blitz that did change the game? I don’t recall seeing him in any passages of play

September is red hot

 

He did lay one of his two big tackles in that quarter that led to Spargo's goal actually, but yes, he certainly didn't create the momentum in that quarter. Nor does he.

2 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

He has been a B Grade player for years when compared to other midfielders in the AFL. 

Many people don’t like reading it, but it’s one of many reasons why we have been such a poor side, for so long. 

His credits are that he has stuck around so long and i applaud him for that. But i don’t expect any BOG performances either, never have  

If he kicks the odd goal for us up forward, fantastic

Yep.

58 minutes ago, hemingway said:

We are talking at cross purposes but never mind, that is the norm on social media. However,  I disagree that Jones is one of the reasons why we have been poor for so long. Blame Board, administration, culture, coaching, recruiting, poor skills, training methods, fitness, rehab, game plan etc.

Jones is not one of the reasons. 

I'd take SWYL's post to mean that the fact Jones has been held up as a champion A grader by some supporters (the same way some lauded Brock McLean and Jack Grimes), shows how bad we've been, given Nathan's actual abilities have never been A grade.

Edited July 17, 20186 yr by A F

6 minutes ago, A F said:

 

I'd take SWYL's post to mean that the fact Jones has been held up as a champion A grader by some supporters (the same way some lauded Brock McLean and Jack Grimes), shows how bad we've been, given Nathan's actual abilities have never been A grade.

Exactly what i mean. I have never doubted his courage and i have never doubted his commitment, But he is a B Grade player, his kicks can go anywhere and his handballs can put players under more pressure. 

The midfield is red hot. I respect that. But Clayton Oliver has shown us what an A Grade kid can do, and what we lacked for so long

26 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Exactly what i mean. I have never doubted his courage and i have never doubted his commitment, But he is a B Grade player, his kicks can go anywhere and his handballs can put players under more pressure. 

The midfield is red hot. I respect that. But Clayton Oliver has shown us what an A Grade kid can do, and what we lacked for so long

I've got to say even Viney (who'd probably be termed as B+ at the moment), has shown up Jones' leadership, as Jack really has the will to drag his team over the line and almost did it the last quarter against Port.

2 minutes ago, A F said:

I've got to say even Viney (who'd probably be termed as B+ at the moment), has shown up Jones' leadership, as Jack really has the will to drag his team over the line and almost did it the last quarter against Port.

Yep. Jones has never got to that level, i am sure he has wanted to, he just doesn’t have that x factor mongrel in him. 

To kick 3 last quarter gutsy goals to steal points. That’s what the great Captains can do

9 hours ago, A F said:

Once again, I think some are confusing the points here.

The consistent line is Jones was the only one who tried hard every week, but he was surrounded by players who weren't good enough.

When Roos got to the club he did an interview on the MFC website that discussed how Jones would play easy footy, the handballs out the back, the long kicks to no one. Nathan himself has admitted that he improved and became a better player under Roos, winning the BnF in 2014. Our list was ordinary again that year. Since then, others have gone past him.

Some posters who I respect are also suggesting Jones is being judged merely for poor form this year. When I talk about his leadership qualities onfield, I am referring to his entire body of work.

It's Jones' leadership credentials that I would debate the most. Neitz was a guy who could turn a game. He was no Franklin or Judd or Ablett, but he was capable of turning games. Jones has rarely, if ever, turned games. That's just fact. If there's evidence to the contrary, people would be able to point to this.

He did lay one of his two big tackles in that quarter that led to Spargo's goal actually, but yes, he certainly didn't create the momentum in that quarter. Nor does he.

Yep.

I'd take SWYL's post to mean that the fact Jones has been held up as a champion A grader by some supporters (the same way some lauded Brock McLean and Jack Grimes), shows how bad we've been, given Nathan's actual abilities have never been A grade.

I'm with you 100% here AF, have always thought the same. His leadership qualities also raised question marks when Grimes and Trengove were chosen as captains ahead of him, then combined with his apparently sooky demeanour when Viney was handed the co-captaincy.

Another thing I've noticed with Jones lately is nearly every interview he has had pot shots at the media/social media combined with him coming out to say in an interview a few weeks back that he had 5-6 years of playing left, which came at a time when he clearly knows the game is passing him by, strange behaviour.

He is the first to mope around with head down and hands on hips when we are getting rolled, his body language is appalling.

I admire his loyalty, personality and his effort but racks up cheap possessions with little handballs and long bombs over his whole career. He has been rather slow the whole year, not just last weekend. He's getting asked to be an outside player but doesn't have speed. At 31 next season, I think that'll be his last and I applaud him for sticking with us. He may be a champion, star, favourite of others and that's perfectly fine, but not for me. An honest B grade trier. 

13 hours ago, Jaded said:

Has a couple of bad weeks and people are sending him off to retirement. Jesus, I got hammered when I thought Trac should run around in the VFL ?‍♀️

Entitled to an ordinary patch after carrying this [censored] show on his shoulders for 8 seasons. 

Sorry to single you out Jaded...as I don't mean to. However the wording of your last sentence resonates as it's seemingly a theme among many.

I speak of the idea that Jones, having carried the burden , as it were, for many seasons, is now afforded the most golden of tickets ?

Is this what people seriously suggest ? He did ALL that ...so get off his back when he's having a less than brilliant patch ?

Bernie lowered his colours...back to the Magoos , but there's in reality no checking possible with Nathan.

I sense he's carrying a niggle again. If we're really to consider ourselves ( MFC) a professional outfit...all are accountable... equally... surely.

On 7/15/2018 at 12:55 PM, Sir Why You Little said:

Might be worth playing him forward. 

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

Jones would be useful in clearances at HBFlank where more focus is on one-way traffic, combining with Jetta/Hibberd could create some drive ... his recovery from active stints is less than it was and midfield-wise, his tendency to 'bomb' everything forward is very frustrating and a luxury that we can no longer afford. He is a good, heads-up ball deliverer over shorter distances, and his handball may improve (often too hard and short for teammates to get 'out of trouble' himself) with more space in which to operate. He is still a very good footballer capable of very good drive and possessive options.

1 minute ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Jones would be useful in clearances at HBFlank where more focus is on one-way traffic, combining with Jetta/Hibberd could create some drive ... his recovery from active stints is less than it was and midfield-wise, his tendency to 'bomb' everything forward is very frustrating and a luxury that we can no longer afford. He is a good, heads-up ball deliverer over shorter distances, and his handball may improve (often too hard and short for teammates to get 'out of trouble' himself) with more space in which to operate. He is still a very good footballer capable of very good drive and possessive options.

His kicking is not precise enough for Half Back. 

Let him kick some goals

No comparison with Bernie's situation. Bernie became a poor contributor, made too many mistakes and generally harmed the team.

Nathan Jones is still making good contributions to the team with his hard running and long kicking, especially through the centre. He is rarely beaten and runs to good positions to offer options for the team.

Given that he is no longer the core of the so called engine room (thanks to Clarry, Gus, James and Tracca), his output and influence might have been reduced but never his effort and will to win.

It is also clear that the FD is still experimenting with his new role. It would be against his natural instinct to be wasted as a tagger as he is still too good a runner and link player.

But perhaps, like many champions before him, he will find a role in the forward line.

On 7/15/2018 at 9:49 PM, daisycutter said:

definitely a weird thread. too much hyperbole and might i say at times quite undignified

Agree.

Reasons why Jones might have had a poor game:

• illness
• received a knock early in the game which affected his capabilities
• carrying an injury
• slow to recuperate from Darwin game
• young children at home kept him awake all the night before
• non-football related personal problem that distracted him
• was playing a specific role on coach's orders which was new to him 
• was due for one poor game after about 200 in a row with no-one concerned about his performance.

Could be any, all or none of the above. Let's wait until he has more than one bad game in a row before we start questioning his future.

 

1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

His kicking is not precise enough for Half Back. 

Let him kick some goals

Fairy 'Nuff! 

On 7/16/2018 at 9:06 AM, Redleg said:

So you have always thought Jones was a crap player. Fair enough if that is your opinion. I think most on here and the MFC and the players he played with and the footy public would disagree. But that is ok. When he won his Blueys did you post on here that he had beaten no one? Have you called for his dumping regularly? 

I am happy to question players ability but I don’t agree with personal attacks and rewriting history. 

Rewriting history? ,,,,,, Facts mate.
Who did he beat?
 Players the calibre of Moloney , Sylvia, and Watts that's who.
He's lucky he's with us, wouldn't be on captain money playing B grade footy anywhere else.

 

Edited July 21, 20186 yr by Fork 'em

35 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

Rewriting history? ,,,,,, Facts mate.
Who did he beat?
 Players the calibre of Moloney , Sylvia, and Watts that's who.
He's lucky he's with us, wouldn't be on captain money playing B grade footy anywhere else.

 

His shirt front tonight was fabulous, it’s just a pity that type of application has been so rare. 

where did his endurance disappear off too? seems to struggle to man up

As I have mentioned many times before: so long as he is in the team, we will be a nothing side.

He is NOT the problem, rather a symptom of it. He is a perennial loser, and that stink stretches for miles. So long as he has a place in the top 22 and starting midfield, we will be making up the numbers. I am sorry to say to those that can't see it. But it is a harsh reality.

9 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

His shirt front tonight was fabulous, it’s just a pity that type of application has been so rare. 

And where was he in the last when ya want the captain to stand up?
MIA as usual.

 

 

Edited July 22, 20186 yr by Fork 'em

3 hours ago, Fork 'em said:

And where was he in the last when ya want the captain to stand up?
MIA as usual.

 

 

That shirt front was in the last. If you're going to have a ping, at least know what you're talking about.

I have always been a Jones fan but last night I wondered about how much longer he can play. He was poor last night on top of other dissapointing games.

9 minutes ago, dl4e said:

I have always been a Jones fan but last night I wondered about how much longer he can play. He was poor last night on top of other dissapointing games.

i wouldn't call it poor, that's too much of an exaggeration. he was below his 'normal' standard

but.....remember he is not playing as an inside mid and the club still needs to find his 'best' next position to play. he still has a year or so left in him if properly managed

club needs to handle his twilight years intelligently, we don't want another junior mcdonald

Edited July 22, 20186 yr by daisycutter

3 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

i wouldn't call it poor, that's too much of an exaggeration. he was below his 'normal' standard

but.....remember he is not playing as an inside mid and the club still needs to find his 'best' next position to play. he still has a year or so left in him if properly managed

I thought he played a fairly “Normal” Jones game myself

his shirt front was great, wish he showed that commitment more often. 

6 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

I thought he played a fairly “Normal” Jones game myself

his shirt front was great, wish he showed that commitment more often. 

he's the least of our problems, however

no-one has a team of all a-graders

Edited July 22, 20186 yr by daisycutter

14 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

he's the least of our problems, however

no-one has a team of all a-graders

I agree, but we don’t have enough. 

JKH can tackle, that is it

12 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

I agree, but we don’t have enough. 

JKH can tackle, that is it

doubt jkh will be around next year

anyway, we were talking about jones in this thread