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Topkent
Confirmed ITK Drafting King
Bloody hell. Worst game of his career probably.
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Bloody hell. Worst game of his career probably.
Yep, as the one who revived this thread to suggest he could continue next year, I've done a complete 180 after one game. I think he is done and he probably knows it too.
I feel a bit sorry for him. The footage of him sitting on the bench had a bit of a look like a guy who knew he might be sitting at his last game.
Couldn't agree more. He looked like a bloke who was told he was done.Yep, as the one who revived this thread to suggest he could continue next year, I've done a complete 180 after one game. I think he is done and he probably knows it too.
I feel a bit sorry for him. The footage of him sitting on the bench had a bit of a look like a guy who knew he might be sitting at his last game.
I can't pinpoint why, but I find the whole Jones to 300 narrative a fraction selfish.With all these players coming out and retiring can't see Jones 'potentially' doing it until our finals chances are decided, and if we make finals I could see him delaying the announcement.
I can't pinpoint why, but I find the whole Jones to 300 narrative a fraction selfish.
Does he deserve 300? Absolutely.
We all know what he's done for the club over time. Unfortunately, football isn't always a fairytale. Did Bryce Gibbs deserve to spend his last 2 years feeling left out with Adelaide after they chased him for 8 years? Kade Simpson deserve more finals?
If we were to sign him to a rookie list, he still would need to play 6 games next year. Can we carry the bloke a quarter of a season? Meanwhile it may mean that a young bloke like Neitschke loses a rookie spot because of it, or Dunkley.
The bloke deserves it after a lack of success and sticking fat by the club over the last 15 years. No doubt. And I hate talk of retiring guys off, especially if they are still playing a role. Compare AFL to NBA for example- people don't call for Vince Carter to retire it's more like "nice he's still doing it" or dirk last year for example. The trouble is Jones isn't really offering anything at all when he plays at the moment.
It's not a premiership, but seeing his elation during those 2 final wins should mean a lot to him, as well as getting the absolute most out of himself since he debuted.
Agree on all points.I absolutely don't think we should carry him to 300 - as much as I love him he has been cooked for a long time and I don't think compromising player development just to get him to 300 games is a good precedent to set. This isn't like Junior McDonald where we shafted him and it was debatable, Jones has played about 3 quality games since mid 2018.
I do think we let him down to an extent in 2017, we seriously sh*t the bed that year and could have definitely won a final or two.
I don’t mind if Jones sticks around for another year or hangs up the boots.
I do mind that the club handles the situation with class and respect.
Jones has perhaps lacked that standout attribute to make him a gun player, but he is an absolute professional through and through.
He has never been a faux tough guy soft utensil staging campaigner like that Geelong prick. He has never been a cry baby apologist for his dead sh*t dumb fu** selfish wife like that Richmond prick.
I’m absolutely certain he worked his ass off to be the best he could be for our club. I know for sure he never threw the toys out the pram even though our club, for most of his career, has been run by the biggest pack of deadshits that it’s possible to find.
Jones barely missed a game for like ten years, so I suspect he played A LOT of football in various amounts of pain.
Most importantly, as far as I’m concerned, he never shirked a contest.
Not one. Ever.
What is it? 293 games?
Every time he’s put his head over the ball. Every time he’s stood under some sh*t mung floater kicked by one of our many, many spuds. I recall him getting a ball kicked full bore into the back of his scone from about 5 meters and he barely flinched. Never dropped his head. Never failed to put his body on the line.
Deserves respect.
We’ve carried him for two seasons already. Getting a bit silly if we carry him again just for an individual milestone. A club with recent success could afford to do so, we aren’t in that category.
Don't understand the list spot argument, if he's the 44th bloke picked then what does it matter? If the 43rd bloke is getting games next year we ain't playing finals anyway.
If list size is cut down then they have to consider tapping him on the shoulder
Anyway it's a tough one, he deserves to finish infront of a crowd.I am assuming they are cutting list size down.
Big difference between Jones & Juinor is that Junior was still playing good footy. I feel like this season was the charity one for Jones to get to 300 or recapture some form but circumstances prevented that milestone from happening. Whether he plays 350 or 299 it doesn't make him any less of a legend of the club. I'd take most of those fringe players over Jones because there is a chance they will improve. Nate's best outcome is he doesn't decline any further. Lets be honest if Jones was on 260 games. We wouldn't be having this conversation.Melbourne supporters: "the club lacks leadership and hasn't handled the departure of veterans well in the past..."
Also Melbourne supporters: "Nathan Jones needs to go so players like Nietschke can stay on the list..."
In all seriousness though, it is definitely a tough call either way. Clearly list size, player departures and arrivals will also affect the decision. However, like others, I fall into the camp that he is probably worth as much as any other player fighting for that final spot on the list.
Bennell, Brayshaw, Fritsch, Gawn, Hannan, Harmes, Hibberd, Hore, Jackson, Jordon, Langdon, Lever, Lockhart, May, T McDonald, Melksham, Oliver, Petracca, Petty, Pickett, Preuss, Rivers, Salem, Spargo, Sparrow, Tomlinson, vandenBerg, Viney and Weidemann are collectively 29 players currently on the list I'd have ahead of Jones presently.
The bottom end is where it gets murkier: Baker, Bedford, Bradtke, Brown, Chandler, Dunkley, Hunt, Jetta, Jones, Kolodjashnij, O McDonald, Neal-Bullen, Nietschke, Smith, C Wagner and J Wagner. Basically, 16 players fighting for 3-8 list spots depending on arrivals, departures, contract status, list reductions, roles in squad etc.
Only keep Nietschke if his first name is Phillip, he has the real killer instinct we need.Melbourne supporters: "the club lacks leadership and hasn't handled the departure of veterans well in the past..."
Also Melbourne supporters: "Nathan Jones needs to go so players like Nietschke can stay on the list..."
I don’t know why anyone gives a tinker’s cuss about 300. I also don’t think we’ve ‘carried’ him any more than any other squaddie. As you say he goes out a club champion no matter what. Id be giving him every opportunity to go out on his own terms, even if that means playing out his days for Casey against the Lion Cubs at Maroochydore. If his form holds up, the 300/games record takes care of itself.Big difference between Jones & Juinor is that Junior was still playing good footy. I feel like this season was the charity one for Jones to get to 300 or recapture some form but circumstances prevented that milestone from happening. Whether he plays 350 or 299 it doesn't make him any less of a legend of the club. I'd take most of those fringe players over Jones because there is a chance they will improve. Nate's best outcome is he doesn't decline any further. Lets be honest if Jones was on 260 games. We wouldn't be having this conversation.