5 games remaining. Same position as last year. 10 wins. 7th. Jones has played 2 finals in 12 seasons. Captain. Now is time for him to go above and beyond. Take the club on your shoulders. It's not about him leading us to upset victories anymore. He needs to lead us to finals. Or forever be branded a loyal loser. Harsh reality.

2 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

This year, and certainly in the recent past, Jones has given some great performances of which leadership was one of those traits; his strength in this regard has been his undoubted ability to so often 'read the play', the intercept, run around and through opponents, so often demonstrating - to the myriad numbers of younger players across the MFC field in recent years - how to get the ball, how to progress the ball, how to demonstrate a desire for the ball. As his game has recently modified,  his ball delivery can be tenuous yet is so often very good in 'eyes up' roles; as his recovery from elements of the game has declined somewhat, his desire to clear the ball is still there but he has the notion that long clearances and bombs are his own best resort. This has been frustrating. He has been a stalwart of effort for the MFC. In his sunset role I can imagine him being a very useful HBFlanker with run from defensive territory and similarly, as a FwdFlanker in roles where 'leap' is of less importance. There are those younger players who might blend all the required skills better than Jones can, these days. There are very few who can demonstrate his endeavour for the Club, producing such impressive short, sharp outcomes onfield - even when these are less frequent than in the past. Perhaps a role from the bench might be more appropriate at this stage of his career.

The bulk of that I can relate to but my gut feel says if Jones were ever to face a permanent role off the bench he would probably move on 56.

In some ways this is a test of the coach & FD also.  Keeping older players fresh and knowing when the time has arrived for them to be managed for a week here and there.

I haven't seen Goody take this line with any of the older brigade so far with the exception of maybe Vince in the last 3 weeks (?)

On 7/25/2018 at 1:54 PM, praha said:

5 games remaining. Same position as last year. 10 wins. 7th. Jones has played 2 finals in 12 seasons. Captain. Now is time for him to go above and beyond. Take the club on your shoulders. It's not about him leading us to upset victories anymore. He needs to lead us to finals. Or forever be branded a loyal loser. Harsh reality.

Not good looking.

Has been average and a liability. 

The club and Jones should bite the bullet and go the Deledio route to help us land Gaff. We need some fresh insight and leadership, and I worry when I hear that Oliver and Trac are turning to the likes of Jones and Lewis for leadership.

We need a leader that empowers and sets the example, at the moment he is staring down the barrel and it is costing us as a club.

We need to continue making hard decisions as a club as we did with Watts.