Will Nathan Jones get a farewell game?

[Wrecker46 2,964]

When Essendon destroyed us in 2000 they had more big bodied and seasoned players.

I'm backing Jones is priming himself for 1 last AFL game in the last week of September and will deliver.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

Think he may have been a slim chance a few games ago at Casey when he was BOG but unfortunately did his calf.

He would have needed to follow up with a solid hit out against the Dogs in the last Casey match.  However aside from Munro and a few cameos from others almost every MFC player flopped badly in that one.  And that was probably the end of that for Chunk.

Would love to see him given one more chance but only if fully fit and tearing up the track (vs other competitors he is on a par with or even marginally ahead of ie; Sparrow & AVB).

Edited August 12, 2021 by Rusty Nails

[RalphiusMaximus 6,046]

I wouldn't be surprised to see him named Sub in the GF if we make it. 

[Stiff Arm 4,419]

1 hour ago, IRW said:

That's a job for RDB  and it will likely be the last chance for him as well so we better win.

Maybe Jones could walk him out to the dais

RDB or The Reverend

[daisycutter 29,612]

i think his only chance is as a medical sub

[Guest]

As much as I would like it, something very fortuitous for him would need to happen.

[Smokey 4,389]

I didn’t even get 1 farewell at my last job, why does Jonesy get 2? 
 

 

[Nelo 813]

Unless there are further injuries I can't see it happening. Looks like the record by Neitz will stand for a while yet.

[Little Goffy 14,514]

He was beginning to find some good form at Casey before his calf strain. He's not completely cooked but it would be a difficult path back. Stranger things have happened in football than a veteran club champion being recalled to play a role following injury or form fades to others.

[PaulRB 6,357]

Given the quality of our new kids (I.e Bowey) is increasingly difficult to find a spot in our best team for Nate… finding an appropriate moment to honour and celebrate his huge contribution to our club is a different question, and I hope we can do this well. 

Edited August 12, 2021 by PaulRB

[pineapple dee 2,892]

2 hours ago, Smokey said:

I didn’t even get 1 farewell at my last job, why does Jonesy get 2? 
 

 

Yeah but you were no good at the job Smokey. They just wanted you to disappear quietly !!

[roy11 3,846]

As stated by a few others think the Anzac Day eve was his send off.

Unfortunately I don't think Jones will have his fairy tale ending this year. 

Slipping down the pecking order with youth banging on the door. 

But cross any bridge when we get to it, a difficult task for him though

[drdrake 3,163]

Hard to break into a side when you had been injured and no real games to play.  He will be the hardest trainer out there each week because that is the bloke he is, emotion won't come into this.  I can't see him breaking in, Viney is the next Mid that comes in and TMac comes in.  Jones in a down the list a bit at the moment, going to need some amazing form or a lot of injuries for him to get a game.

[Smokey 4,389]

29 minutes ago, pineapple dee said:

Yeah but you were no good at the job Smokey. They just wanted you to disappear quietly !!

Damn you got me there 🤪

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,809]

12 hours ago, Wrecker46 said:

When Essendon destroyed us in 2000 they had more big bodied and seasoned players.

I'm backing Jones is priming himself for 1 last AFL game in the last week of September and will deliver.

 

12 hours ago, RalphiusMaximus said:

I wouldn't be surprised to see him named Sub in the GF if we make it. 

IF we make the GF and Jones is fit, the  he starts on the ground IMHO.

If he starts as the sub, that would be viewed as a token effort and an insult to him, which wouldn't be fitting of the contribution of him over the journey.

Even if his body isn't what it was a few years ago, he's still close to as good as a few players on the frindge of the team at the moment.

If he plays, he will put in 200%, definitely wouldn't back out of a contest and would strike fear into the opposition in his immediate area.  I think there is less risk of him being overawed by the occation than some of the less experienced players on our list.  Back in 2000, none of our players stood up and matched it with Essendon physically, when Sheedy bought out his typical dirty thuggery.  Jones bluntly wouldn't stand for that and he'd fly the flag with a few others like Viney, Hibbo and Maysy to get the message across that we will not be physically intimidated.

Even if his body only makes it through half to three quarters of a game, we then have the sub and it would be a high value half a game we'd get from Jonesy.

The fabric of footy clubs are built on spirit and playing Jonesy epitomizes that.  We are in it, he is fit, he plays and starts on the ground.

[All the Jacks 99]

On 8/12/2021 at 6:34 PM, Redbeard said:

Do you think he'll get named on the bench or as medi-sub before season's end so we get to say goodbye, and more importantly, thank you?

I have so much love for this bloke, he was the reason I kept watching during those years

Got his 300 so lets get on with it 

B&F night best time 

[Kick_It_To_Pickett 3,292]

The last game of VFL I saw this year, before the Pooh was hurled at the fan, he was clearly best on ground. If he can Play games like that over the next 5 weeks and we go deep, he should be the medical sub. You know on a big day, when whips were cracking, if you lost a soldier, he’d go out and do a job for you. He is more versatile than people credit him as being. Can play high half forward. Back flank. Or in the middle. Wing. 

[dazzledavey36 54,794]

Well it's finals time.

I'm really torn on this to be honest. Jake Lever mentioned he's been BOG in 2 out of the last 3 practise games the past few weeks.

A part of me thinks we should just have him as the medical sub for the finals, but unfortunate it's looking pretty bleak that he gets a chance.

I know some aren't into fairytales but surely for a guy that's been through the absolute darkest of days deserve to at least start as a sub?

The other aspect is that unfortunately on form alone, there is no one really in the team you could drop for Jones.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,815]

I wouldn't totally be opposed to him being sub but the ship has sailed I reckon.

There's worse options than having a 300 gamer as sub who wouldn't be freaked on the occasion of grand final day. 

 

[Guest]

Indeed @dazzledavey36....

It would be the greatest fairytale since I have followed the club. He was the ONLY reason to watch us from 2012 to 2014. It wasn't because he was a football artist. It was just watching a bloke keep at the coal face even though most of his team mates were more interested in what night club they were going to that evening.

As much as I want it to happen, I can't see who gets dropped for him. 

[DubDee 25,773]

He should be considered strongly for the 23 each week.  If Vanders/Sparrow are getting a game he cannot be far away. Experience counts in finals. Great to have him there if needed.

Injuries/concussions/suspensions will happen as finals will be intense with nothing left on the table.  if I had to guess, I'd say he will play another game

I am 100% against picking him as the sub as a token move or out of 'respect'.  he should earn what he gets.

[Jaded No More 68,879]

This is a very hard decision. There is no individual bigger than the club, and we need to do absolutely everything we can to win a flag. There can be no compromises made.

Look if he was the sub on Grand Final day, and there was 10 minutes left and we were clearly going to win, of course I would make the sub and let him on and have him enjoy it.

But we need to win 3 more games, and that is the priority. If the club is worried that if we need to make a substitution in the first quarter of a game that Jones is going to blow up or break down by the third quarter, than it is a big risk to take.

You need to have a medical sub that you think will be good enough to fill a role if someone goes down a minute into the game. Do I think he should be sub ahead of Vanders? of course I do. Do I think that maybe he would be a better sub than Sparrow or JJ? Not on the form he has shown this year. 

Edited August 23, 2021 by Jaded

[picket fence 17,130]

On 8/12/2021 at 8:43 PM, old dee said:

Yep GF.

Would be a fairytale finish and fitting as Medical sub, but I think that is the only chance unfortunately.

[ucanchoose 1,816]

We have a team, who nobody is bigger than anybody else.    Jones isn't best 23. Simple.    So there is no chance he gets a game

[BDA 22,740]

If his form warrants it by all means get him in the team or include as medi sub. But his inclusion has to be formed based not for sentimental reasons. We're trying to win a flag here.

If not named then get him up on the daish when we accept the cup. Perhaps accept it jointly with Maxy