Nathan Jones snapshot: celebrating 250-game milestone

Born: January 20, 1988 (30 years old)
Height: 180cm, Weight: 87kg
Games: 249, Goals: 121
Recruited from: Mt Eliza/Dandenong Stingrays

2005
Recruiting manager Craig Cameron calls out Nathan Jones with Melbourne’s first selection in the NAB AFL Draft (No.12 overall). Jones joins the club after amassing 36 disposals for Dandenong Stingrays in the TAC Cup Grand Final, played on the MCG, before the Sydney Swans’ win over West Coast Eagles. Days later after his GF effort, he records the sixth best 3km time-trial at the NAB AFL Draft Camp, held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. He also represents Vic Metro and receives All-Australian honours during the year. He receives the No.2 jumper – worn by Melbourne great Robert Flower.

Jones was picked at No. 12 in the 2005 draft - in between Kangaroo Shaun Higgins at 11 and Eagles skipper Shannon Hurn

2006
Makes his AFL debut under coach Neale Daniher against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG in round 17. He notches up 17 disposals. Plays the last eight matches of the season, including Melbourne’s most recent finals. He plays in Melbourne’s second elimination final win against St Kilda at the MCG, and in the club’s second semi-final loss to Fremantle at Subiaco Oval. Jones also receives the first of two Rising Star nominations, following his 25-disposal performance against North Melbourne at the MCG in round 20. After Melbourne’s season ends – the Demons finish fifth – he returns to Sandringham (then the club’s VFL affiliate) and plays in a premiership for the Zebras.

A win on debut for Jonesy in Round 17 2006 against the Dogs

A word from then assistant coach Anthony Rock in the Round 21 2006 draw against Geelong at Kardinia Park

2007
Plays 21 matches, missing round five with an ankle injury, and receives his second Rising Star nomination, after Melbourne’s loss to Port Adelaide at Football Park. He collects 25 disposals against the Power. Jones finishes third in the Rising Star award, behind winner Joel Selwood and Scott Pendlebury. He finishes runner-up to James McDonald in Melbourne’s best and fairest award. Daniher finishes as coach mid-season, with Mark Riley coaching the last nine rounds. The Demons miss the finals for the first time since 2003, finishing 14^th.

Nathan Jones looks to offload against the Eagles in round eight 2007 (Photo: Tony McDonough)

2008
Adds another 21 games to his tally, and is an emergency for round 18. In Dean Bailey’s first season as coach, Melbourne claims the wooden spoon. Kicks a career-best four goals against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in round six. Plays his 50^th game in the final round of the home and away season, against Richmond at the MCG. Signs with the club for a further two seasons.

Evading Heath Shaw on Queen's Birthday 2008 (Photo: Michael Willson)

2009
Again, plays 21 matches for the season, missing rounds 12 and 21, due to illness. The Demons again finish last for the second successive season. Finishes fifth in Melbourne’s best and fairest.

2010
Plays all 22 home and away games, as Melbourne improves under Bailey, finishing 12^th. Signs a two-year contract.

2010 also saw the debut of Jonesy's sleeve. Here he is after a win in Darwin over the Power (Photo: Sean Garnsworthy)

2011
Added to Melbourne’s leadership group, Jones again plays every home and away match for the season. Plays his 100^th game against St Kilda at Docklands in round nine, and finishes fourth in Melbourne’s best and fairest. It proves to be a tumultuous year for the Demons, as Dean Bailey is replaced as coach, following Melbourne’s 186-point loss to Geelong at the Cattery in round 19. Todd Viney steps in as caretaker coach. The Demons finish 13^th.

Jonesy with the 2011 leadership group (Photo: Michael Willson)

2012
Wins his first Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy and polls 14 Brownlow Medal votes – his best effort in a season. Plays 21 matches under new coach Mark Neeld, and kicks 16 goals for the season (a personal-best), but the Demons slip to 16^th on the ladder. Jones signs a new three-year deal.

Against Crow Scott Thompson in round 22 2012 (Photo: Michael Willson)

2013
Named vice-captain, Jones is named co-captain in May, due to the absence of the injured Jack Grimes. Plays his 150^th game against Geelong in round 16 at Kardinia Park, and notches up 22 appearances, despite a foot injury in the pre-season. Claims back-to-back best and fairest awards and wins the best team man award. Neeld is replaced as senior coach, with Neil Craig stepping in as caretaker coach. The Demons finish 17^th, winning just two games for the season.

2014
In Paul Roos’ first year as coach, Jones is named co-captain, joining Grimes. He claims his third consecutive Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy. Amasses more than 600 disposals in a season for the first time, finishing with 610, including a career-best 38 against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium in round one. Jones plays every home and away match and polls 13 Brownlow Medal votes. The Demons again finish 17^th, but win four games and show some signs of improvement.

Sharing a laugh with Travis Boak at captains day 2014 (Photo: Lachlan Cunningham)

2015
Named sole captain and plays all 22 matches for the season, including his 200^th game against Fremantle at Subiaco in round 22. He suffers an ankle injury and substituted out of the match. The Demons make improvement under Roos, finishing 13^th. He re-signs with the club until at least the end of the 2019 season. He is also named a life member of Melbourne.

A special moment. Jonesy runs out with daughter Bobbi for game 200 against Fremantle as his wife Jerri watches on (Photo: Will Russell)

2016
Again, Melbourne’s captain, Jones plays every game for the season. He wins a career-best 617 disposals – his best effort in a season – and finishes runner-up in the club best and fairest to winner Jack Viney. In Roos’ final season as coach, he guides the Demons to 13^th, as the club continues to make improvement. After the season, it’s revealed that he’s played with a prolapsed disc in his neck.

On ANZAC Day Eve 2016 (Photo: Scott Barbour)

2017
Remains captain, but with Viney joining him in a co-captaincy role, as Simon Goodwin takes over as coach, following the succession plan with Roos. Despite undergoing off-season surgery, due to his neck injury, he still manages to play 16 matches. Yet he misses six matches with a quadriceps injury, as Melbourne agonisingly miss the finals 0.5 per cent. Jones finishes equal third with Jordan Lewis in the club best and fairest. He averages a career-high 5.4 tackles per game.

2018
Jones and Viney again share co-captaincy duties. Jones captains the side in the first eight rounds, due to Viney being sidelined through injury. Set to play his 250^th match for Melbourne against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium in round 11. He joins David Neitz (306 games), Robert Flower (272), Adem Yze (271), Jim Stynes (264), Steven Febey (258), Brad Green (254), Brian Dixon (252) and James McDonald (251) as the only players to have played 250 matches of more for Melbourne since it became a foundation VFL/AFL club in 1897.

Leading the side back to the rooms after a round two win over Brisbane (Photo: Jason O'Brien)