Universal Love #2 Nathan Jones - Retired. Thank you Chunk

rhaz

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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.
 
Oct 9, 2014
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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.

Yes my thoughts exactly from his expression.

As an individual he has had a very successful career, such a tiny percentage of AFL players get to play that many games. It just seems that the end has come very quickly.
 

Topkent

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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.
 

jhong

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Actually thought he looked like a bloke just realising his body may not be up to it anymore . The old Nath at 30 metres out in front would have had a shot . Last night he went on to his left foot and sent it up in the air . He wasn't the only one out there doing dumb s**t last night by a long shot , but he should really consider retiring at seasons end . It just too sad and not befitting watching him slowly become a shadow of himself .
 

Grimesy87

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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.
 
Apr 12, 2014
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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.

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 s**t the bed that year and could have definitely won a final or two.
 

Grimesy87

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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.
Agree on all points.

I don't like mentioning money, but one positive for him, over a decade of s**t is probably that Jones has been paid better than if he was at say saints or north through the same period.

Probably a job with 7 on special comments over next few years. There is no plausible way he could be worse than Watson.
 

SackLunch

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Apr 16, 2016
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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 s**t dumb * 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 s**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.
 
Apr 12, 2014
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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.
 

SackLunch

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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.


I don’t think we’ve carried him. He’s been down around the back end of the 22 over that time. His form has dictated that.

I agree it would be silly to gift him games to get to 300. Personally, I don’t think it’s important at all. The fact he’s contributed over a long career is what’s important. Whether that’s 147 games, 206, 271, 405 or 300 games.

I just wanted to make the point I hope he’s treated by the club, and fans, with due respect.
 

Crusty Demon

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I'd happily escort about 12-15 blokes out of the club before even considering Nathan Jones. It's not about 'gifting him games'. It's about respecting what he's done for our club. He was literally our only glimmer of hope in a decade of misery. Could have taken the easy route and left like those scumbags $cully, Howe and Frawley but stayed and worked his a$$ off to try getting some respect back for our club. He went through so many coaches and dumpster fire turmoils yet wanted to stay and some people on here are happy to toss him to the curb and make that decision for him? Ridiculous.

We've made those mistakes before. We need to finally do the right thing by one of our club champions and let him decide. If he decides he wants another year, then I have absolutely no problem with that. We don't have much to celebrate as a club, as supporters, but Jones deserves to get to 300 games more than most who have made it before him. He's also a ripping bloke and I'd love to see him with the opportunity to play in his 300th in front of the Demon faithful on the MCG next year (All going well of course). Hawthorn giving Burgoyne another year to get to 400 is why they are a successful club and we are not. You look after your champions. Leave the decision in his hands. I really hope the club doesn't make the call for him..
 
Apr 12, 2014
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I know some people feel like we're shooting bambi but he is CLEARLY past it and is far more likely he declines further rather than has a mini resurgence. Hawthorn can give Burgoyne another year because they've won 4 flags in the past 15 years and can afford some time down the bottom of the ladder (Which they know is coming). MFC is meant to be competing for flags now and people want to throw away a list spot on a guy who has been a club champion but isn't up to AFL level anymore.
 
Jun 14, 2015
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Hard to know what Jones brings to the club outside of the game every weekend. Personally I don't see the harm in giving him a spot over a rookie or a speculative pick if he wants to play on, and I'm sure if that's the case it would be clear that he's only getting games if he earns them.
 

Topkent

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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
 
Apr 13, 2015
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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.
 
May 3, 2014
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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.
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..."
Only keep Nietschke if his first name is Phillip, he has the real killer instinct we need.
 
Apr 13, 2015
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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.
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.

Jones openly stated that at this stage he wants to go round again. I’d take Jones over the other fringe players as a squaddie because he’d be a better influence on the younger players coming through. That said, I’m not going to hit the roof if he’s cut.
 
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