Thanks Jonesy - Retirement

[Lord Nev 13,511]

 

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Critically underrated legend of our club.

For me, part of the gloss of making the Grand Final has been taken off from him not being there as I firmly believe he offers just as much as Jordon as the sub.

Having said that, he made the right decision to be home for the birth of his twins regardless.

Thank you, Nathan. You are a bloody star.

[deva5610 970]

A champion of the club. Stuck with us during some of the darkest days and continued to give his absolute all.

A leader both on and off the field, here's hoping he'll continue to stick around in some capacity.

I'm gutted that he couldn't make it back into the 22 for the Grand Final, but am hopeful the guys will get it done for him and us.

Thanks Nathan.

Edited September 15, 2021 by deva5610

[whatwhat say what 19,310]

been a warrior

[Engorged Onion 9,411]

Thanks for guiding us through the darkest times. 

[OzScot19 49]

😭😭😭

The word legend gets thrown around far too often, but is entirely justified here. Stuck with us for 15 odd years through some real lows when he could have gone to a cup contender. Just a shame he's not part of next weekend.

Hope he gets a farewell lap at the G infront of 100k (with the cup 🤞) once covid fks off

Thanks for everything jonesy

[Jaded No More 58,669]

A light in the darkness. A hero when we needed one. A standard setter. A leader. A champion player who carried an entire club on his shoulders for a decade. 
Nobody has done so much for our club during such low times. When others chose to run, he stayed and fought. Through all the bad games, all the bad seasons, all the bad years. 
He is a credit to himself but he’s also a credit to where the club is today. His determination, his never say die attitude, his leadership and care for his teammates is a big part of why we are where we are today. 
 

Thank you Jonesy for choosing us over and over again when it would have been very easy to walk away to greener pastures. You will never be forgotten. 

Edited September 15, 2021 by Jaded

[Robbie57 1,991]

Absolute legend of the club.

Thank you Nathan my daughter's most treasured jumper is her 2 yo one with your number and signature.  

[roy11 2,994]

A warrior who bled red and blue.

Happy he got to the 300 mark with a full crowd and a win.

Sad he can't be at the ground on Saturday but fully understandable and correct decision to be with his family.

Looking forward honoring him somehow in 2022.

 

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,501]

I'm pleased we were able to get him to 300 games. It's an interesting aspect of the club over the last 50 years that even when not in contention to play finals, we were unable to be appropriately respectful to so many players. His loyalty deserved to be rewarded and that we as a club were able to be loyal in return says as much about how we're now travelling as does the position we find ourselves in with just one game to go. 

[Deeoldfart 7,801]

Absolute legend Jonesy.  You did the Club proud over so many years, now the Club is gonna do you proud! 

[Axis of Bob 10,307]

The culture of this team is based on his work ethic and integrity.

In the early part of the decade, he was given the leadership of the club despite not being a natural or outspoken leader. But when this new group of players came into the club it was his example that demonstrated to everyone that this is how you train, this is how you prepare and this is how you make yourself into a good AFL footballer. 

The others were moved on from the club and Nathan Jones, with his example of who they should all try to be, was forced into the middle of club. 

The integrity of him as a person, and the integrity of his work ethic, is an example that all of this generation of players will have with them through their careers. A super player in his own right but his character still lives through the club through his actions over his career. 

I can't say how much I thank him for staying with us and help us become the club we are now. He'll always have a special place the the MFC and any future success we have will be built on the foundations that he laid down with sweat and integrity. 

Thank you Chunk. Not just for the last 15 years but also for everything that hasn't happened yet. Champion.

[Hopeful Demon 1,275]

He will never be forgotten. He was our only shining light during our dark years (2009-2014). The fact that he was one of our few senior players who refused to leave during that period showed how loyal and committed he was to the club.

While it's a pity that he hasn't been able to participate in the finals this year, there's nothing wrong with playing your final game in a win against Richmond in front of nearly 80, 000 people. I will always remember his match-winning goal in the 2018 elimination final against Geelong.

[david_neitz_is_my_dad 3,937]

Who is cutting onions?

[whatwhat say what 19,310]

1 minute ago, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

Who is cutting onions?

gus  brayshaw

Edited September 15, 2021 by whatwhat say what

[Clintosaurus 6,592]

Should we win next Saturday, Nathan should get to raise the flag at our first home game (with a crowd) in 2022.

[Gorgoroth 12,336]

If ever a stand/trophy etc needed a name, his name should be top of the list.

Saying Thank You is of course right but it’s nearly as right to say We are Sorry. 
We as a club failed him multiple times, and he stayed staunch the whole time.

He Makes you proud to follow the club. Always has.

[Purple77 965]

He carried the weight of the whole footy club over his career. He got us through to the other end; a debt we can never repay.

Jonesy, we freaking love you.

[Sir Why You Little 34,700]

300 Games and a MFC Captain 

The Number 2 is a sacred part of this Club

Jonesy wore it with Pride

[MrFreeze 1,433]

He might be able to able to play in the GF like we all hoped. But has earnt every bit of it and will hopefully have as much joy and pride as any of the 22 running the field on Saturday. 

Much love Chunk 

[rpfc 27,591]

28 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

Thanks for guiding us through the darkest times. 

I am so glad he got to haver this moment as Captain in a final after 12 seasons of failure.

It was the best moment of the game IMO and something I think about from time to time when I think about the journey the club is currently on.

Nathan was never going to get the fairy tale finish, but he has shaped this club and he helped to lift us to where we are and at the expense of a different, possibly more successful, path in different colours.

[Guest]

This puts a full stop on the dream that he’ll play in a flag. I was sad when I realized that, but we shouldn’t dwell on the negative.

I remember once in 2012 at a Saints vs Demons game when a few minutes of Lenny Hayes brilliance beat us despite a spirited resistance (unusual at the time). It was raining, it was cold, the odds were long we would win.

I bought a coffee from one of the stands and the young girl at the barista stand, clearly a neutral fan or  someone uninvested in the game, asked how I could will myself to the football to watch a game on my own in glacial weather in a contest we were unlikely to win.

My response was that the players go through much worse on the night.

Nate epitomized that.

I left Australia in 2015; the year before we became a legit chance to make finals. I have been a member from 2010 onwards, meaning that I too had to sit through our Sysiphus pushing the boulder journey through that time. 

There were times I felt absolutely devastated and almost personally affronted with how badly we played. I sat in partisan Melbourne crowds where the mood could only be described as unrestrained and sulphuric rage ready to erupt.

That was just my impressions as a supporter. I ask the reader to consider what it would have been like to be on the inside of that?

On top of that there were other things to consider: Players losing faith with the direction of the club and leaving. A coaching position with little to no stability and changing more often than some blokes change their jocks. A media swarm ready to slaver over the corpse of the team or at the slightest hint of an indiscretion. Opposition players openly holding us in contempt on the field. An off field set up where kids were thrown onto the scrap heap 3 years in after being given roles the weren’t ready for. A culture where the perks of being an AFL footballer were to be enjoyed, but the responsibilities of one weren’t to be observed.

While a lot of what I’ve written might seem superfluous, it’s not. I ask you to marvel at the fact that Nate had to endure all that bollocks, and continued to play the way he did: in and under packs, trying to get the ball away from clearances, taking hits and running hard. How he didn’t lose hope is a tribute to the bloke he is.

The last season of his career, which need not be elaborated on as we’ve all been riding the bumps with him for that final game, is further testimony to his resilience, loyalty and dedication.

We’ll miss you. 😥👏🏻

Edited September 15, 2021 by Colin B. Flaubert

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

If we do win the flag I fear that he will resent it.

[Willmoy1947 3,808]

They know who and what they are playing for...

[Sir Why You Little 34,700]

3 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

If we do win the flag I fear that he will resent it.

No he won’t. Max will make sure he is part of it