Nathan Jones

[Nicho 1]

Nathan Jones is a star and already playing years ahead of his maturity but I have a couple of worries about him....

His ability to get the hard ball has to be commended but he tends to dive on the ball and not attempt to release which is evident of all the free's against him which are predominantly "holding the ball"

Also like a lot of our midfielders when he clears the ball he just seems to slam it on the boot and not look where’s he's kicking it which often butchers our inside 50's. And as this has been a huge struggle for us this season when we do go inside 50 we need to be very effective to counter the lack of opportunities....

Finally Jonsey seems to start the game all guns firing but tends to become less effective after half time.

I know he’s only young and will get better but these are some observations I have made.

However his ability to win the hard ball and tackle is awesome and people forget his only 19.... I want Chook as captain but this bloke has leadership written all over him

WHAT DOES EVERYONE THINK????

[Guest redandbluethruandthru]

if he keeps developing at this current rate he will win brownlow before he is 23.

love him . barring injury he will be a star. already is in my book

[Deelusioned 0]

I think Jonesy tries to spin out of trouble a bit too often and this is where he often gets caught. But he will get his head around this in time. Don't think he's diving, it's all attack and then a heap of lugs sit on him, and far too often now the attacker is getting penalised.

As far as tappering off goes, well he's 19, so the body is still young and he's playing in positions where you really have to bust ya gut. Reckon he'll have a solid pre-season and his general fitness will continue to improve.

I love him, love his endevour and love his bald nugget.

[Demons 32 235]

Key thing you have to remember is that he is a kid.

I constantly call his big boot into the 50 the under 18's punt.

He is a kid, and as mature as he is he will still have many qualities that he would have learnt in junior football and Under 18's football.

Jones is a good strong player. And will continue to get better but for now let him mature without the added pressure of leadership or criticism.

[diesel 420]

WHAT DOES EVERYONE THINK????

I would rather he occasionally gets pinged than turn it over or cough it up so long as it isn't in the forwrd 50 it at least gives us a chance to get numbers back.

Anyone who goes as hard as he does and tries to break packs is going to get done sometimes. He generally uses his teamates when they are there but it isn't always possible or the best thing to actually release the ball even when you have had prior opportunity.

[mordja 187]

I would rather he occasionally gets pinged than turn it over or cough it up so long as it isn't in the forwrd 50 it at least gives us a chance to get numbers back.

Anyone who goes as hard as he does and tries to break packs is going to get done sometimes. He generally uses his teamates when they are there but it isn't always possible or the best thing to actually release the ball even when you have had prior opportunity.

Happy to see him having a crack. Would rather he learnt now when it doesnt matter, got used to taking some blokes on, rather than nervously handballing it for fear of getting pinged.

McLean and Jones and do whatever they need to progress this year, given the amount of times they have been pinged for it in the last few weeks I reckon they must be under instructions to play that way. You wont break lines and tackles like Judd does if you never learn and make a few mistakes

[Rogue 585]

I think Jones has been a great find, and at his age he's still got plenty of room for improvement.

Hopefully that improvement consists of improving his efficiency, because he could be a gun.

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,606]

A gun of the highest order!!!

Will be much better than that Brock bloke.

[Rampaging Demons 1]

There was no run from behind him on a couple of occassions that he got caught!! IN the seocnd half he gave off some nice handballs to people on the run

There is no doubt that like Brock, Sylvia, Bell - he loves the body contact and the bashing in style of footy.

I think he adds so much to the club - a very strong work ethic, an excellent temperament and more importantly loves the red and blue!!

The number two guernsey is in very good hands!!

[Gorgoroth 12,431]

Love the guy, love the fact he gets the ball, the rest he will learn, as said great to see the number 2 in the hands of a kid who has the potential to be as good as flower.

[brey9186 102]

There was no run from behind him on a couple of occassions that he got caught!! IN the seocnd half he gave off some nice handballs to people on the run

There is no doubt that like Brock, Sylvia, Bell - he loves the body contact and the bashing in style of footy.

I think he adds so much to the club - a very strong work ethic, an excellent temperament and more importantly loves the red and blue!!

The number two guernsey is in very good hands!!

thats right

have TJ or Greeny getting some of his clearnaces, and he will look even better!!

[Deano74 156]

Jones simply gets caught because of the lack of support. The Best sides have numerous options and poor Jonesy wins the ball looks up and no one has been there to often this year. without people running past, who has he got to give it to.

As for Kicking widely into fifty out of the middle I imagine that would be a directive of the coaching panel.

[davey_magik 1]

Love the guy, love the fact he gets the ball, the rest he will learn, as said great to see the number 2 in the hands of a kid who has the potential to be as good as flower.

Ease up mate, I wouldn't make predictions like that just yet.

I love Jonesy but there are times when he needs to give the handball rather than take on the second or third tackler. If he has no option I don't mind him banging it in either but he'll learn some composure, look at Belly, cool as they come compared to last year when he regularly shat himself when he got the ball.

[Hannabal 4]

Love the guy, love the fact he gets the ball, the rest he will learn, as said great to see the number 2 in the hands of a kid who has the potential to be as good as flower.

You're obviously too young to have seen Flower play.

[Demon Jim 149]

Nathan Jones is a star and already playing years ahead of his maturity but I have a couple of worries about him....

His ability to get the hard ball has to be commended but he tends to dive on the ball and not attempt to release which is evident of all the free's against him which are predominantly "holding the ball"

Also like a lot of our midfielders when he clears the ball he just seems to slam it on the boot and not look where’s he's kicking it which often butchers our inside 50's. And as this has been a huge struggle for us this season when we do go inside 50 we need to be very effective to counter the lack of opportunities....

Finally Jonsey seems to start the game all guns firing but tends to become less effective after half time.

I know he’s only young and will get better but these are some observations I have made.

However his ability to win the hard ball and tackle is awesome and people forget his only 19.... I want Chook as captain but this bloke has leadership written all over him

WHAT DOES EVERYONE THINK????

Our midfield clearance work is not well planned. Other teams seam to be able to get the ball to someone in the clear through some rapid handballing. We have struggled to get good clearnances for a long time even when someone like Jones consistently gets his hands on the footy first. What is Paul Williams doing? We need to get some good set plays going in the midfield to get on the end of Jones' ball getting abilities.

By the way, love Nathan Jones, he will play a lot of games for us.

[mauriesy 6,907]

but he tends to dive on the ball and not attempt to release

And we are surprised an inside midfielder gets caught holding the ball sometimes because ... ?

[Gorgoroth 12,431]

Ease up mate, I wouldn't make predictions like that just yet.

I love Jonesy but there are times when he needs to give the handball rather than take on the second or third tackler. If he has no option I don't mind him banging it in either but he'll learn some composure, look at Belly, cool as they come compared to last year when he regularly shat himself when he got the ball.

You're obviously too young to have seen Flower play.

No i was not too young, i was young when he played but i still remember him well, besides i did say the "potential" i did not say he would be.

Might want to read the post before qouting it.

[Rampaging Demons 1]

must also remember jones got sat on a couple of times, then the pies hailed the taxi!!!

by getting a clearance and kicking it long - don;t they always say forwards read the play better!

has a huge upside does the boy Jones and yes we can be critical of him sometimes taking too long but he is probably ahead of where many thought he would be and is leading the charge of youth at the MFC.

[No16 1]

I remember watching footage of him before we drafted him and he was a man amongst boys were it was easy for him to break the tackles. It will only be time until his body is used to the harder bodies of the AFL and will be able to break the tackles.

[Nicho 1]

I remember watching footage of him before we drafted him and he was a man amongst boys were it was easy for him to break the tackles. It will only be time until his body is used to the harder bodies of the AFL and will be able to break the tackles.

Yeah i remeber watching the TAC cup final before the GD in 05 and he dominanted in a loosing side... Got like 35 poss and kicked a goal by memory... Since that day i wnated to draft him and i we got him pick #12 in the 05 draft which in then and now in hindsight was a steal.......

Im fat replacing Brock with Jonsey as our best gun midfeilder......But i havent written of Col as he will soon dominate, He is our Riccuito

[Total-Dee 2]

I like a player who is willing to trust his own skill and ability to take on another player. It can be a case of "you win some you lose some" but with more experience I believe he will learn when to take on and when not to.

A great player in the making and a will be a key player in the midfield for melbourne for the rest of this decade.

[Demon15 0]

Im fat replacing Brock with Jonsey as our best gun midfeilder......But i havent written of Col as he will soon dominate, He is our Riccuito

I agree.

it's a wonder he hasn't done his back carrying the midfield with JMcD this year.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

And we are surprised an inside midfielder gets caught holding the ball sometimes because ... ?

Some of the criticism of Jones is unwarranted.

Love the guy, love the fact he gets the ball, the rest he will learn, as said great to see the number 2 in the hands of a kid who has the potential to be as good as flower.

He will have to be extraordinarily good to do that. Flower was something quite special from his first game in 1973. Jones is very capable and his progress for his age is signifcant. But he is no match on Flower and that is not necessarily a criticism of him. Flower was just a superior type of footballer that comes along rarely like a Hird.

[Gorgoroth 12,431]

I agree Rhino he was a star and we have not had one since, but lets say he starts breaking those tackles and can get some space to use the ball. He could get bloody close.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I agree Rhino he was a star and we have not had one since, but lets say he starts breaking those tackles and can get some space to use the ball. He could get bloody close.

Acknowledging those 84, his disposal will never be in Flowers league. And he will never have Flower's contested marking ability.

He will be good for us and I am big fan. But having recently watching a highlights tape of Flower recently, time blurs just how truly sublime those skills were.

Jones is a worthy holder of the No 2 guernsey as was Tingay IMO.