Nathan JONES

2017 Digest:   Seems to be relishing having more midfield support and may even spend time across half back. Primed for a big year.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1	StK	Right in the thick of it in the middle and was one of the main generators who lifted Melbourne from second quarter.	8
2	Carl	Used the ball very well through midfield when others were failing. Eight inside 50s and late goal a great way to cap the day.	8
3	Geel	Monster effort but expect nothing less; 13 contested possessions, eight inside-50s and four clearances. Kicked three points.	8
4	Frem	No impact on the contest offensively and while he had good tackle numbers, he was too loose defensively in transition.	5
5	Rich	Worked hard in midfield, but went backwards by hand a few times when he could have driven the ball forward. Looked sore late.	5
6	Ess	Bounced back to some better form in midfield. Had 30 touches and worked hard in close to feed the ball out to runners.	7
7	Haw	Co-skipper worked into contest after slow start. Third term was enormous then ran out of puff in final term (five disposals).	7
8	Adel	Two goals from turnovers was just the tonic his young side needed from its co-captain.	7
9	NM	Worked hard but inability to use the ball continually hurt himself and the team. Nine inside-50s but didn’t hurt Roos.	6
10	GCS	Came to the fore in the third term to get his team back into the game. Kicked three goals and was near best afield.	8
11		Bye.
12	Coll	Clean in hustle and bustle early. Had a massive second half to drag Dees back. Laid 12 tackles.	8
13	WB	Hard worker in midfield and helped set the game up, Sat out final term with hip/groin niggle.	6
14		Quad.
15		Quad.
16		Quad.
17		Quad.
18		Quad.
19		Quad.
20	GWS	Back from a quad injury and was good in first 10 minutes then quiet. Dees needed big skipper’s game.	5
21	StK	Big opening term paved the way in midfield. Worked hard throughout around the stoppages.	8
22	Bris	When the whips got cracking the skipper stood up around the footy. Led from the front.	8
23	Coll	Terribly fumbly at key moments, but got slightly better when things were desperate in second half.	6

2016 Season

1	GWS	Strong worker in midfield for three quarter until moving to half back in fourth quarter.	7
2	Ess	Battled his guts out in the middle but had next to no support when it came to winning it in close.	6
3	NM	Wore Jacobs as a backpack for much of day but broke free in final term. One ripper long goal.	5
4	Coll	Ran riot through midfield to win plenty of ball but no inside-50s and just two clearances.	6
5	Rich	Played second fiddle to Viney (again) but still a force with seven clearances and neat ball use.	7
6	StK	Wholehearted display in packs but didn’t have enough support apart from Viney.	7
7	GCS	Superb four-quarter contributor and booted two goals.	8
8	WB	Worked super hard as he always does but lacked impact at times with many of his touches.	6
9	Bris	Strong around the contests even when teammates took foot off the gas.	6
10	Port	The only Melbourne midfielder to get the best of things. Lacked support from start to finish.	7
11	Haw	Huge game in midfield. Obliterated Shiels who just couldn’t stop him in close.	8
12	Coll	Disposal way off early. Five inside-50s and five clearances but seven turnovers.	6
13	Syd	Burrowed in around the contests to will his team forward. Just lacked a bit of support.	7
15	Adel	Big ball winner in midfield and continued to drive his team forward but was sloppy at stages.	7
16	Frem	Long goal just before half time handy and continued to force the ball Melbourne’s way.	7
17	StK	Couldn’t get hands on ball when it mattered then got a few cheap ones late in the back half.	4
18	WCE	Led the team strongly with his ball winning and tackling.	8
19	GCS	Quiet early but workrate eventually got him into the game and had a big final five minutes.	5
20	Haw	Bored in to be a presence around the ball. Six clearances and 11 tackles.	7
21	Port	14 touches in the final term, including two clearances, two inside-50s and a goal.	8
22	Carl	Tried hard but was caught a few times and appeared a step slow.	5
23	Geel	Didn’t impact flow of game. Of 25 disposals only one was an inside-50.	5

2015 Season

1	GCS	Looked a bit off the pace early but caught up and played a key role late.	7
2	GWS	One of the quietest days of his career. Unable to get anything going.	3
3	Adel	Terrific leader inspirational with five crunching tackles.	7
4	Rich	Fumbly in first half but came to the fore strongly when the going got tough.	7
5	Frem	Lowered colors to Suban in head to head duel. Expect him to bounce back hard.	5
6	Syd	Wasn’t able to generate his normal drive from the middle.	5
7	Haw	Has to be injured. Couldn’t cover the ground with Hawk mids despite stats.	4
8	WB	Six clearances, nine inside-50s and 13 contested possessions a handy night.	8
9	Port	Massive first term with 11 touches but then became a spectator.	5
10	Coll	Huge effort highlighted by eight clearances, six inside-50s and two goals.	8
11	StK	Big first half and continued to surge ball forward. Leadership late?	7
12	Geel	Led from the front in a way that Selwood failed to. Seven clearances and big goal.	8
14	WCE	Tireless worker in midfield and tried hard to sway Eagles’ momentum.	7
15	Ess	Gritty as usual with nine clearances and six tackles but lacked polish at times.	7
16	Bris	Spent time at half forward and worked into game. OK without starring.	6
17	StK	Dunstan kept him under tight rein in first half but hit back hard in third.	5
18	Coll	Went head-to-head on Pendlebury for most of game and kicked the sealer.	8
19	NM	Tagged out of the game by Jacobs and had a quiet one.	3
20	WB	Brave as always but wasn’t given any room to create in space.	5
21	Carl	Couldn’t get hands on ball all day. Tough afternoon.	4
22	Frem	Hurt his ankle during the second term and couldn’t return.	3
23	GWS	Shrugged off ankle injury to play leading role with 36 touches, one goal.	8

2014 Season

1	StK	A night out for the Jones boys in both clubs. Totted up 38 possessions	8
2	WCE	One-man band at times but even he ran out of puff late.	7
3	GWS	Knock to the eye at opening bounce, but battled on.	6
4	Carl	Shadowed Murphy and beat him while putting up big numbers himself.	9
5	GCS	Nearly well his team over the line. Never gave in until the final bell. Superb.	8
6	Syd	Continued to lead with his work ethic and attack on ball. Excellent.	8
7	Adel	Laid seven tackles but well held possession wise by Kerridge.	5
8	WB	Closely tagged by Picken and worked hard to break free. Frustrated at times.	6
9	Rich	High quality 33 touches with nine clearances and a goal.	7
11	Port	Went head to head with Boak in an even duel between the two captains.	6
12	Coll	Kicked the opener and had a monster third term. Never gave in.	7
13	Ess	Got the better of Hocking who wasn’t able to stick with him. Will his team home.	7
14	NM	In everything early but also allowed Greenwood space to win his own ball.	6
15	WB	Well tagged by Wallis, but started to have an influence in second half. Tried hard.	6
16	Frem	Hard worker but lacked his usual punch around the ball.	6
17	Geel	Thrashed by Selwood in first term then released. Stats OK but impact down.	5
18	Port	Never stopped trying, or running. Huge effort to drag team within grasp of win.	7
19	Bris	Tireless worker driving his team forward. Wasteful by foot in second half.	6
20	Haw	Numbers look good but ran into trouble a bit and defensively had to be better.	6
21	GWS	In everything early but slowed after quarter time and wasn’t able to arrest slide.	6
22	WCE	Did what he normally does – fought bravely with minimal help.	7
23	NM	Lionhearted effort in midfield and always looked to drive team forward.	7
QF		–
SF		–
PF
GF		–

2013 Season

1	Port	Tried hard offensively but defensive accountability for Cornes was poor.	6
2	Ess	A one-man band in midfield. His effort can only be admired.	6
3	WCE	One of the Demons’ best again. 15 contested possessions and nine clearances.	7
4	GWS	Typical bustling game highlighted by team-high eight inside-50s and a goal.	7
5	Bris	Tagged well by Raines who restricted his impact going forward.	5
6	Carl	Tagged by Ellard but refused to wilt. Threw himself at every contest.	6
7	GCS	Acting captain tried very hard – five inside-50s and four clearances.	5
8	Rich	In and under and led from the front – team high 13 contested possessions.	7
9	Frem	Shadowed by Crowley and worked his tail off to break free.	5
10	Haw	His work-rate and intensity stood out like a beacon – 16 contested poss.	7
11	Coll	Gave his all but made a few mistakes with the ball in hand – only six cont poss.	5
13	StK	Melbourne’s best midfielder and odds on to win best and fairest again.	7
14	WB	Didn’t stop throwing body into contests without playing a starring role.	6
15	Syd	Won ball and importantly used it well. Didn’t stop running.	7
16	Geel	Gave his all in game 150 with 18 cont poss, seven clearances and seven tackles.	7
17	Bris	Tagged by Raines and worked hard to break free. Laid five tackles.	5
18	NM	Had it 24 times but not a lot of impact against a dominant midfield.	6
19	GWS	Shadowed by Adams and Whiley and was the sole Demon to cause GWS any issues.	7
20	GCS	As usual worked his backside off all night and even heavy whack to nose slowed him.	7
21	Frem	Tagged by Crowley and ran hard but unable to shrug the Dockers’ stopper.	4
22	Adel	Van Berlo played him closely all afternoon yet still managed nine clearances.	6
23	WB	Cut out of game by impressive run-with opponent Wallis. Kicked side’s first goal.	5
QF
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

1	Bris	Played typical bustling game to grab 20 disposals. He just never gives up.	6
2	WCE	Kicked two goals from 27 possessions. Led by example.	7
3	Rich	Battled away but didn’t have any support to be damaging.	5
4	WB	Had 22 touches but efficiency was only 40 per cent.	5
5	StK	Kicked a couple of brilliant goals. 27 touches in one of his best games.	8
6	Geel	Didn’t have the support in the midfield to hurt the Cats. Kept battling.	6
7	Haw	Only Demon to have more than 20 touches, but not incisive with his touches.	6
8	Syd	Worked his guts out as usual but always under pressure and made errors.	5
9	Carl	As usual battled his guts out for four quarters but only three inside 50s.	6
10	Ess	In the thick of it from start to finish and kicked brilliant early goal	8
11	Coll	Typical bustling game through middle but often under pressure.	7
13	GWS	Burrowed in all day and was zippy around the footy.	8
15	Rich	Helped side get back into game in second term and ended as team’s best.	8
16	Frem	Workrate set the example but Crowley closed him down after half time.	6
17	Port	Consistent and strong in the midfield.	7
18	NM	Mark Neeld would love to bottle his spirit as he never stops trying.	7
19	GCS	Led the midfield with ball finding abilities – seven clearances, four inside-50s.	8
20	StK	Very good in first half and then had diminished output.	6
21	GWS	Popped up all over the ground and virtually did as he pleased. Excellent.	7
22	Adel	Another tireless performance from Melbourne’s likely B&F winner.	7
23	Frem	Tagged by Crowley. Fought hard for 17 touches and a goal.	6