Nathan Jones - run with player?

[The Dr]

Seeing Jones did an admirable job (first half especially) in arguably the toughest task in footy - trying to curtail Ablett's influence on a game - could we see more of Jones in this role?

He has all the attributes - elite fitness, hardness, competitiveness, team-oreinted style - and it might help restrict his big limitation - kicking - if his main job is to just stop others from getting too much of the ball. I see a bit of Brett Kirk in young Jonesy.

It actually might solve a bit of a problem in that we have too many so-so, hardly damaging midfielders such as Bartram, Dunn, Junior etc.

Assuming Junior retires at the end of this season, with Jones playing a run-with role, it would mean we wouldn't have to select Dunn or Bartram which, for me, is a positive because they aren't going to win us many games.

Might even allow us to trade either of them if we deem it necessary or keep them for depth if not.

Thoughts?

 

[master bate]

I think Bartram is up against it to keep his spot on the list anyway but I like Dunn as our tagger. He has more versatility to play tall or small and anywhere on the ground. I'd give Jonesy a few more goes at it for development but in the end I'm happy with Moloney, McLean and Jones all being inside mids. 2 on the ground, 1 on the bench is reasonable for most games. Hopefully our more outside mids develop into versatile players and we draft Scully but I'd rather have a quaity number of mids than a huge bunch of taggers.

 

[w00dy]

Assuming Junior retires at the end of this season, with Jones playing a run-with role, it would mean we wouldn't have to select Dunn or Bartram which, for me, is a positive because they aren't going to win us many games.

I don't agree there on Dunn... Unlike most of our midfielders, Lynden can kick... He's improved at winning his own footy, and he kicks goals as a midfielder... I think he's going to be an important player for us going into the future...

Bartram I agree with. Tries his guts out, but doesn't have the polish required... Think he'll stay on the list, and play plenty more games for the MFC... But when we're out our peak, Clint won't be up to the grade...

As for Jonesey tagging, I think it's a good idea, and I want to see more of it... The main problem with his kicking is that, he's winning his own footy, and is always under constant pressure, and doesn't have the composure of a Judd or Ablett to get the ball out cleanly, by hand or foot. By tagging he'd win his footy other ways, whilst also curtailing an opposition player...

 

[Goobernutty]

All we've got to lose this year is that second priority pick (& we only lose that by winning games, which I'm all for ), so yes, I'd give him a couple more shots at running with roles.

 

[davey_magik]

If someone could please tell Nathan Jones to take the first option he'd be elite.

He ALWAYS tries to take on about three tacklers and that is what stuffs us up. He should be told to handball off when possible and only kick when required.

 

[Clean Heels]

This spells the end for Bartram - and possibly Dunn.

Unless Dunn gets a forward role next yr.