The 24 year-old won the award from co-captain Jack Grimes and second year Demon Tom McDonald. Midfielder Jordie McKenzie and defender/forward Jared Rivers rounded out the top five.
Jones had his finest AFL season in 2012, playing 21 matches and missing just round 14 against the Brisbane Lions with a calf injury. He managed career best statistics in disposals (516), tackles (95) and goals (16).
Previously, his best result in the best and fairest was in 2007, when he finished runner-up in just his second AFL season.
Jones also finished fifth in 2009, and fourth in 2011.
Originally drafted from Mt Eliza/Dandenong Stingrays at No. 12 in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft, Jones has played 135 matches. He has missed just five matches since making his AFL debut in round 17, 2006.
Grimes capped off his best season with the Sid Anderson Memorial Trophy, after he played every match except round four against the Western Bulldogs, when he was suspended.
It was a fine turnaround for the 23 year-old, as injuries had kept him to 32 matches from 2007-11.
Grimes’ latter part of 2012 was particularly impressive, where his form and leadership went to another level.
McDonald’s ability to claim the Ron Barassi Senior Memorial Trophy was outstanding, given 2012 was just his second AFL season and he entered the year with two matches under his belt.
He missed just two matches in 2012 and managed to hold down a key defensive post. McDonald also finished sixth in this year’s NAB AFL Rising Star award.
Rivers, who finished runner-up in 2011 to Brent Moloney, claimed his second top five placing, when he received the Dick Taylor Memorial Trophy.
2012 Melbourne best and fairest - top five
Winner - Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy: Nathan Jones
Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott was a World War Two ace fighter pilot and dual Melbourne premiership player in 1939-40. He won the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar, flew in the Battle of Britain, and died over Exmouth Gulf in a Catalina flying boat while on a training exercise.
Runner-up - Sid Anderson Memorial Trophy: Jack Grimes
Sid Anderson was a tall, agile wingman. A RAAF navigator, he was among Melbourne’s best during its memorable hat-trick of flags in 1939-40-41. He tragically lost his life in the air over New Guinea in 1944.
Third - Ron Barassi Senior Memorial Trophy: Tom McDonald
A courageous rover, Ron Barassi Jnr was 19th man in Melbourne’s 1940 premiership side. Tragically, he was killed at Tobruk during World War Two. Melbourne went on to foster the talents of his son, Ronald Jnr, with the coterie supporter group’s ‘pledge’ vowing to assist the Barassi family following Ronald Snr’s death. Ronald Jnr came to Melbourne as the first example of the father-son rule, becoming a legend of the game.
Fourth - Ivor Warne-Smith Memorial Trophy: Jordie McKenzie
Ivor Warne-Smith was a quiet achiever who could ‘play anywhere’. He dominated his era, winning Brownlow Medals in 1926 and 1928, and playing in the 1926 premiership. He later reigned supreme while working with the likes of Norm Smith, Albert Chadwick and Jim Cardwell to construct the Melbourne brilliance of the 1950s and 1960s.
Fifth - Dick Taylor Memorial Trophy: Jared Rivers
Dick Taylor was one of the finest centremen of his day. He played a major part in Melbourne’s 1926 premiership success, and served as a committee member after his retirement. A model of consistency, he played more than 100 consecutive games.
2012 Melbourne best and fairest - total votes
1 - Nathan Jones (368)
2 - Jack Grimes (348)
3 - Tom McDonald (314)
4 - Jordie McKenzie (312)
5 - Jared Rivers (310)
6 - Colin Garland (297)
7 - Jeremy Howe (293)
8 - Jack Trengove (275)
9 - James Frawley (266)
10 - Lynden Dunn (257)
11 - Rohan Bail (238)
12 - Colin Sylvia (233)
13 - Joel Macdonald (228)
14 - James Magner (219)
15 - James Sellar (197)
16 - Jack Watts (195)
17 - Mitch Clark (182)
18 - Dan Nicholson (166)
19 - Mark Jamar (157)
20 - Sam Blease (157)
21 - Brent Moloney (153)
22 - Luke Tapscott (142)
23 - Mathew Bate (135)
24 - Brad Green (130)
25 - Clint Bartram (119)
26 - Jake Spencer (99)
27 - Cale Morton (97)
28 - Aaron Davey (82)
29 - James Strauss (69)
30 - Stefan Martin (62)
31 - Neville Jetta (55)
32 - Jamie Bennell (35)
33 - Tom Couch (26)
34 - Ricky Petterd (26)
35 - Josh Tynan (16)
36 - Jack Fitzpatrick (14)
37 - Liam Jurrah (8)
38 - Jordan Gysberts (6)
Did not play in 2012: Troy Davis, Lucas Cook, Michael Evans, Max Gawn, Rory Taggert, Kelvin Lawrence, Jai Sheehan, Leigh Williams
