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What to do with Nathan Jones

Wrecker45
in Melbourne Demons

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10 hours ago, Caligula's cohort said:

Jones will get to 300. He may not have the impact he once did, but he is still a hell of a lot better then some 18 year old kid who will take years to develop, or a mature age rookie who needs to learn our structures and game plan. It also gives guys like Sparrow, Dunkley and Jordon more time to develop and not thrown in the deep end playing in the First's. 

Not sure if he'll get the 300,but your comments and others lead to the bleeding obvious. Jones becomes a part timer.

if he is keeping someone out, he gets rested. If he matches up against an opponent he plays on them. If he adds value he plays. If he is not 100% he is rested. He plays cherry ripe every time he steps out and he leaves each game in the seniors absolutely exhausted, maybe even rests the next week to recover. Jones has always given his all so should have no problems matching these standards.

He still has plenty to add and can do it with true leadership.

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    5 hours ago, Mel Bourne said:

     

    For those suggesting he deserves 300 at the club (and he certainly does, however)...

    If Nathan Jones wants to make 300 games it requires him playing every available game this season and the next, at which he’ll be at 297 games at the end of the 2020 H&A season. We’ll then have to play at least three finals, or else his 300th wouldn’t arrive till 2021. 

    I’d love all this to happen (and having the reason he plays all those games to do with form and not sentimentality), but it’s a big ask... 

     

     

    So what you’re saying is we can’t nurse him to 400?

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    If we review two players in similar stages of their careers at MFC, Jones and Lewis, and compare how we are reacting to the finish, or potential finish , to their careers, we appear to have different standards. 

    Lewis is a 4 time premiership player who has played over 300 games, an all Australian, whose skills and football brain have always been well above those  of Jones - and still are. 

    Jones has been a heart and soul player for us through many bleak years. He has earned our respect and gratitude. However, while he still bleeds red and blue, his skill set is now second rate, if we are being honest. 

    Lewis, a large number of us here has said he should stay at Casey, and not play in the ones again.

    Jones, a large number here are saying we should keep him on to play 300 games - at least one and a half seasons away. 

    Naturally there is a lot more love for Jones than Lewis - one is Melbournes heart and the other is an outsider.

    But perhaps we need to take a tough leaf out of Clarkson’s book, and take the emotion out of any decision regarding Jones, and do what’s best for the teams development - when the time comes.

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    If Jones had played for almost any other team, or in almost any other era, he would have another 10-12 games just from playing in finals. He's been loyal and missed out on so much, but I can't justify playing him if his form doesn't warrant selection. Other great team players, such as Stynes and Yze found that even if you've played 250+ games, the end can come very, very quickly.

    Edited by La Dee-vina Comedia

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    On 6/10/2019 at 9:09 PM, chook fowler said:

    Jones is On the Couch and said he wants to play for a few more years. FMD!

    and Roos said he was our best ball user. FMD . . . we are in serious strife. 

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    On 6/11/2019 at 4:02 PM, Mazer Rackham said:

    You mean 3 o'clock today? Okay.

    Again, that was quick!

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    3 hours ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

    and Roos said he was our best ball user. FMD . . . we are in serious strife. 

    Don’t want to split hairs, but what Roos said in response to a question asking who is Melbourne’s most skilful player, he replied it’s probably still Nathan Jones. 

    Now, this opinion seemed to totally confirm the conversation they had been having about Melbourne’s skill level being so low across the team. 

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    I suspect Jones will get another year in after this year. He hasn't been that bad. I don't think he looks finished, he just isn't in great form.  

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    • 2 weeks later...
     

    He should go have a chat with Travis Boak.

    He had really dropped his output the last 2 years but this year has probably been his best.

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    He’ll get another year, but not as captain.

    And I don’t know about most skilled, but I think he’s actually a really good kick these days. My criticism is more decision making i.e. long bombs inside 50 rather than lowering the eyes.

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    5 minutes ago, Forest Demon said:

    He’ll get another year, but not as captain.

    And I don’t know about most skilled, but I think he’s actually a really good kick these days. My criticism is more decision making i.e. long bombs inside 50 rather than lowering the eyes.

     

    'long bombs inside 50 rather than lowering the eyes.'  - that's most of our squad tbh

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    Add another tick for the old ‘Nathan Jones starts a fight - we win’ stat. Never fails! Wish he started more of them these days!

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    2 hours ago, Forest Demon said:

    He’ll get another year, but not as captain.

    And I don’t know about most skilled, but I think he’s actually a really good kick these days. My criticism is more decision making i.e. long bombs inside 50 rather than lowering the eyes.

    Yep, I think this is on the money and probably should be, earns a game in whatever position plays his 300th but no more than 1 more year.

    True and valient servant for such a long period of time! Ive changed my view a little!

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    On 6/12/2019 at 5:47 PM, Queanbeyan Demon said:

    and Roos said he was our best ball user. FMD . . . we are in serious strife. 

    Maybe he meant best bald user?

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    What to do with Nathan Jones? Easy, keep playing him and give him some short stints in the middle where he is best. Do we really want to batter are young on ball brigade for 100% of 22 games in a season?

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    On 6/24/2019 at 2:02 PM, Demonland said:

     

    Won't be captain next year, but its got nothing to do with 1 free kick in a career of highly disciplined football

     

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    8 minutes ago, Demons1858 said:

    Won't be captain next year, but its got nothing to do with 1 free kick in a career of highly disciplined football

     

    I'm not even sure I know what the free kick was for as I don't think it was high contact. Is there a rule about front on contact when the ball is not in play? or something about rough play? or did it fall into the "it's not a good look, so we'll pay a free kick" category? 

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    Outside of the dumb free kick (the dumb part was going anywhere near a flopper when the team had the ball) and a couple of bad bombs inside 50 (one where he had Fritsch free for an easy sideways kick but burnt him in the 2nd in particular) I thought he was good across half back.

    Worked hard to get to contests and had some very important moments coming up in to play to win ground balls.

    Happy for him to play on in that high half back role on the basis that like Lewis this year he might not have 22 games in him.

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    In a more elegant time ie long ago ageing rovers and mids went to the back pocket. Think Sam Nankervis, who stayed as captain and played 325 games. 

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    23 hours ago, picket fence said:

    Yep, I think this is on the money and probably should be, earns a game in whatever position plays his 300th but no more than 1 more year.

    True and valient servant for such a long period of time! Ive changed my view a little!

    This is a difference between us and .say, the Hawks.

    No sentimentality over there. Would clearly be respectfully retired by Hawks at end of this season. As Goody should.

    Slower reflexes, fumbly.......

    The end comes to all of us, but what's in the best interests of team development trumps other angles. IMO

    More games needed into Hore,  Lockhart, Sparrow,  Dunkley, Baker, Wagners, Petty......as the priority.

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    3 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

    Outside of the dumb free kick (the dumb part was going anywhere near a flopper when the team had the ball) and a couple of bad bombs inside 50 (one where he had Fritsch free for an easy sideways kick but burnt him in the 2nd in particular) I thought he was good across half back.

    Worked hard to get to contests and had some very important moments coming up in to play to win ground balls.

    Happy for him to play on in that high half back role on the basis that like Lewis this year he might not have 22 games in him.

    Agreed- I thought the role he played getting his body in line with the ball as a bit of a goalkeeper role just inside the centre square when we were inside 50 worked well. Especially as he could beat the first tackle and buy some time. The next step is to give the ball to a salem, May or even Fritsch (when in form and confident) and get them to take the kick back inside forward 50. If he does this role he has another year or two. This role requires smarts and body strength and not so reliant on speed - as required on the wing. 

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    2 hours ago, Demon17 said:

    This is a difference between us and .say, the Hawks.

    No sentimentality over there. Would clearly be respectfully retired by Hawks at end of this season. As Goody should.

    Slower reflexes, fumbly.......

    The end comes to all of us, but what's in the best interests of team development trumps other angles. IMO

    More games needed into Hore,  Lockhart, Sparrow,  Dunkley, Baker, Wagners, Petty......as the priority.

    Respectfully, we are not a development team. We are in the premiership window, or should be. We need our best team on the park and when all are fit we will beat all comers. We should not go back into a developing team mentality because we aren’t.

    Edited by Dees2014

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    2 hours ago, Demon17 said:

    This is a difference between us and .say, the Hawks.

    No sentimentality over there. Would clearly be respectfully retired by Hawks at end of this season. As Goody should.

    Slower reflexes, fumbly.......

    The end comes to all of us, but what's in the best interests of team development trumps other angles. IMO

    More games needed into Hore,  Lockhart, Sparrow,  Dunkley, Baker, Wagners, Petty......as the priority.

    He will get another year because we already have 6 or 7 players who can't get a game in the seniors or like Lewis will definitely retire..... and we are already playing Hore, Lockhart, Sparrow etc  

    Jones isn't holding them back.

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