In episode 23 of Inside Melbourne, Clint Stanaway and Caty Price chat to Nathan Jones after Melbourne’s historic win against West Coast. We recap the Final clinching win (0:55), discuss Optus Stadium (9:25), role players within the team (13:20) and Nathan addresses ‘over celebrating’ (15:40). Plus, we take your questions from the outer (28:00).
WHEN the final siren sounded at Optus Stadium on Sunday afternoon, Melbourne co-captain Nathan Jones wasn’t fixated on playing in his first finals series since 2006.
Instead, the co-captain was relishing the moment, with the 17-point victory over West Coast putting a line through his side’s inability to match it with the competition’s best.
“The narrative this year was that we couldn’t beat a top eight team,” Jones told the Inside Melbourne podcast.
“To go over there (to Optus Stadium) with the plan that we had and to execute it like that, in a really hostile environment – as soon as the siren went, it was like ‘yes, we finally did it’.”
Prior to Sunday’s clash in Perth, Melbourne had failed to defeat any team sitting within the top half of the ladder – the Demons suffered losses to Richmond, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Sydney, Port Adelaide and Geelong (twice).
With West Coast manning second position, and Melbourne falling to another top performer in the Sydney Swans the week prior, Jones said the external pressure was mounting.
“The frustration after the Sydney game was huge,” he said.
“You could feel it amongst the playing group and the coaches, because it was sort of one that we didn’t play our best, but we could’ve won.
“I hadn’t even really thought about playing finals – it was just more the fact that the team had overcome something which hopefully now breaks down those barriers and exposes us to new challenges.”
For Jones, being the only remaining listed player from Melbourne’s last finals efforts, this moment has been a long time coming.
From thumping defeats to last year’s heartache in missing out on September by percentage, the much-loved figure of the red and blue has faced his fair share of battles.
But the 30-year-old never considered taking the easy way out.
“I committed a long time ago to see us make at least this point,” Jones said.
“The hard work for us starts now, but that’s a really exciting opportunity that we’ve created and that’s something that I’m just hanging out to be a part of.
“That’s what I dreamed of and hoped for during those tough times.”
Before the Demons can truly turn their focus to that first final in September, another challenge in the form of GWS Giants awaits at the MCG on Sunday.
With a chance to finish fifth, or even sneak into the top four if Fremantle was to beat Collingwood, Jones isn’t letting the end to a 12-year finals drought blur his vision.
“It’s not as if we got ahead of ourselves,” Jones said.
“I think it’s important that we do celebrate and enjoy that win, but ultimately, the first thing we addressed after singing the song and getting around each other was now the opportunity that’s created.
“We’re well aware that this weekend presents a huge challenge.
“We’d love to put on a big performance in a very important round for the club, at the MCG, the week before finals start and go in in-form and winning.”
