Nathan Jones Locked in for 2021

[Little Richard 6,262]

Very happy to see this and will be hoping with the entirety of my red and blue heart that he makes it to 300. He still has so much to offer to the club as a mentor and cultural leader.

[Demonstone 22,486]

On balance, a fair and correct decision.  No surprises to see who is posting the nasty comments.

[titan_uranus 25,000]

I saw the arguments both for and against signing him up for another year.

I have no issues with us doing it and I hope Jones is as motivated as he's ever been to push himself, improve his deficiencies, lock himself into the 22 as early in 2021 as possible, and prove many of us wrong.

The test will come if he gets early games but struggles, making it harder and harder for us not to let him get to 300. But I'm happy to back him in to get it done.

[SAlves 37]

These are always tough decisions with older players who have given their all for the Club.

When Junior was forced to retire there was a lot of angst amongst many, but they made that tough decision.

I admire Nathan for his loyalty, resilience, tenaciousness & leadership.

However, the question needs to be asked is he in our best 22? I think the answer is no.

They intended to play him on a half forward flank, but Bayley Fritsch should be on a flank rather than be a key forward.

Head v heart, but I think they should have appointed him as a development coach rather than as a player.

Melksham played the other flank this year, but one suspects that may be filled by the resting onballer - Petracca or Oliver?

[DubDee 25,839]

Love Jones but he cannot add much to the team, certainly not consistently anymore. 

I don’t see any parallels with McDonald. Junior was captain and playing well, he should have played on but was chopped due to an overly aggressive rebuild

if getting to 300 games had anything to do with this decision, I’d be ropable. We are not a charity. If you deserve a contract, you get one, regardless of the number of games played 

but I love jones and hope he plays well

[dazzledavey36 54,861]

Great decision, happy with this.

[bluey 1,101]

You can’t learn from the past, the club is doomed, experts at failure!

[3183 Dee 2,853]

1 hour ago, cantstandyasam said:

I knew he wouldn't, hopefully he does the team first thing and plays a mentor role at Casey after he gets to 300. Alternatively if his form doesn't warrant a game I hope he accepts it and plays that mentor role. He's always struck me as a player who puts his needs first, hopefully I'm wrong.

If he put his needs first, he would have been out of here in around 2011.

[3183 Dee 2,853]

There are many reasons why this decision is a good one, the least of which is about his playing ability. Culture, leadership, experience and mentoring are the predominant reasons he’s got a new contract. The playing side of things is cheap insurance and a hope from many of us, that he may earn himself 6 more games!

[waynewussell 5,727]

I only got through a third of page one and I couldn't go on. The miserable (insert the plural for a noun meaning "act of piercing something with a sharp point") who weighed in with their superficial negative responses... are often the ones who gush about the culture of other 'successful' clubs. This decision is all about our culture! Jones was hampered by a niggling quad injury throughout the truncated season that 2020 was. He still managed to be part of some excellent passages of play (go ahead, watch some highlights!). With a rest and a pre-season, he will earn his spot and become our second 300 gamer! 

[Wiseblood 24,637]

1 hour ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

The Jones haters can go get Fked.

Go and have a look at those that are against the decision. Should tell you all you need to know. 

I'm happy with this decision. Goody won't gift him games but his presence and leadership will be invaluable, and we have treated him with respect throughout. 

[John Crow Batty 8,863]

I said about 6 months ago that if Jones get s another season the club ain’t fair dinkum. He has already gone two seasons too long.  No other club is as comfortable with mediocrity as we are. 

Edited October 28, 2020 by america de cali

[COOLX 209]

Not happy Jane. Jones is a good club man but as a footballer he is not up to standard. Perhaps we do not want to win a flag. Clarkson would have got rid of him long ago. Tonight I will get Fked.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,166]

2 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Yes....this is what Club culture is all about.  He will get games if he is good enough, if not we haven't shoved a leader out the door like we did with Junior.

I disagree. This is what 2020 was about, to give him a chance to get to 300 and hold his worth. He showed when out there he was barely hanging on and had multiple soft tissue injuries which are the mark of the ageing warrior. This is taking a spot in 2021 from someone who could develop or make a difference. 

[The Reverend 1,736]

3 hours ago, Dr.D said:

what a stupid football club

Seriously?

[Mayday 42]

Nothing makes me laugh more than people acting like holding onto a literal legend of the club who was our captain for one extra year is such a bad thing... 

Imagine the horror of keeping a literal legend of the club (who has proven himself as an amazing person on and off the field for near 300 games, and at the very least is excellent and proven depth in a good side), over getting some random dime a dozen shot at a random young guy like the Wagners, Smith, Dunkley, Chandler etc that we can definitely just shoot for the year after.

Well done to the MFC on doing the right thing for a literal legend of the club and in all honesty the right thing for the list as a mentor and good depth player for probably very little money. Kudos.

A LEGEND OF THIS CLUB REWARDED.

Edited October 28, 2020 by Mayday

[trout 385]

2 hours ago, Marcus94 said:

I don't understand why a lot of people are knocking this decision. Look at Travis Boak for example, he's a veteran who didn't have a great 2019 and a lot of people were saying he was done.

He got himself into form with a solid pre season and he tallied incredibly well in the brownlow this year. I'm not saying that Jones is of the same calibre that Boak is, but if the hunger is still there i'm sure Jonesy will give the off season a red hot crack to try and get back to some decent form.

I think he understands that games are not given so i'm sure he'll put in work to reach his 300 games.

Travis Boak won the Port Adelaide B and F in 2019. 

[bluey 1,101]

What a shambles this joke of a club is, Greeny, Junior, Grimesy, Dunney, Tengrove, Maloney, Trapper, now they’ve got cold feet about retiring Jones!

Our greatest ever player, ?......wow, time to go Mahoney, exit stage left!

[nosoupforme 3,085]

Nathan Jones will be great to have around the club. He has a chance to play 300 and if he is good enough then he will get there.

He is professional enough to understand the circumstances and being around the guys he can be able to help them out with their game.  is a great competitor and although he is past his best he has the motivation to give it his all.  Knows how the game is played and what to expect.

Looking forward to Nathan Jones playing his part.  A  loyal Melbourne man forever.

 

 

Edited October 28, 2020 by nosoupforme

[The heart beats true 18,123]

I can understand both perspectives on this (although one side’s argument is certainly less eloquent in its presentation in this thread).

I will say the points made about coaching cut backs has really helped me better understand the decision. I remember we got hurt badly a couple years back by the runner changes, simple because we didn’t have the experience on the field to read the momentum. 

[drysdale demon 4,830]

15 minutes ago, bluey said:

What a shambles this joke of a club is, Greeny, Junior, Grimesy, Dunney, Tengrove, Maloney, Trapper, now they’ve got cold feet about retiring Jones!

Our greatest ever player, ?......wow, time to go Mahoney, exit stage left!

There are 17 other teams you could follow if you feel that way.

[Supreme_Demon 3,834]

I am very happy with this decision.

 

It will be great to have another 300 gamer at the Melbourne Football Club.

Obviously he has to earn his games next year in 2021 but I will be looking forward to hopefully attending Nathan Jones' 300th game.

 

 

[Meggs 595]

59 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

The Jones haters can go get Fked.

I'm stoked about Jonsey getting another year, the chance to play 300 and possibly finals/a flag.

Supporting, not disrespecting, our loyal servants who have bled red n blue for their entire career is very important.  6 more games for 300 and or 13 more for the all time games played record as a Demon.  Can Jonesy do it? Yes possibly, but to do this he must earn his spot each week, train hard and stay uninjured. His durable track record and professional approach will tick 2 boxes.  It’s the first box which will likely prove the decider in how many matches he plays next year.

Best of luck for 2021 Jonesy and go Dees!

[Demon Disciple 12,119]

2 hours ago, Chook said:

It took us 10 years to make amends but we finally show an old vet the respect he deserves.

With all respect to Junior, he is not in the same class as Chunk (few at the MFC are).

[Gorgoroth 12,947]

As said he will need to earn his spot. He will be on sod all money. He takes a spot that prob would have gone to a Wagner or Similar. Rather Jones there than Melksham or VDB.