NATHAN Jones is a champion in every sense of the word.

In 2021, he became just the second Demon to reach the 300-game milestone, and he retired with three club best and fairest trophies to his name.

But when Melbourne won its drought breaking premiership last year, Jones didn’t have a medal hanging around his neck.

The warrior missed out on the fairy-tale ending to his career, but that’s not what defines him.

“I spoke a lot to Goody, once I gave away the captaincy (at the end of 2019), around what legacy I could leave,” Jones said on the Dyl & Friends podcast.

“Whether or not I play in a premiership ... or we play finals again or not.”

Taking the on-field achievements out of the equation, Jones reflected on an earlier time in his career to find some inspiration.

“I went back to when I last signed a long-term deal under Roosy when I was in that first year as captain on my own,” he said.

“I’ve just seen so many guys come and go and not many of us survived.

“That’s not how your AFL career and dream should go.”

Jones walked away from the game having lost 198 of his 302 matches – the fifth most losses of any player in the history of the competition – and it’s fair to say he experienced the lowest of lows.

With that in mind, he was determined to ensure the Melbourne Football Club would never fall to that state again.

“If I wasn’t to win a flag, at least the club would hopefully be in a better place, and if I could influence that in any way, that was my goal," Jones said.

“That’s practically how it panned out really.”

Jones may not have pulled on the boots last September, but his role in the cultural shift at Melbourne, and contribution to that historic premiership, is a legacy that will last forever.