DESPITE winning three Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophies and finishing runner-up in 2016, skipper Nathan Jones believes he can take his game to another level.

Jones, who has played 223 matches for Melbourne since 2006, said he was confident of going to the next level. 

“It wasn’t too bad. Coming off my surgery last year, I felt like, particularly towards the end of the year, that I was able to get back to some of my best form,” he told Melbourne TV.

“I found myself playing different roles this year and I had a bit of experience at half-back and a little bit on the wing.

“That’s a good thing for me and I’ve really enjoyed the challenge this season – the challenge of leading the team and continually trying to improve as a player as well.

“I still think my best footy is ahead of me and I’m pretty excited about the next two or three years in particular.”

Jones praised Paul Roos’ legacy and said he was “so excited” about Simon Goodwin starting as senior coach.

“I think all of the players are,” he said.

“He has this terrific ability to explain things very simply and he has built really strong relationships and he’s a terrific communicator.

“He sees the game as good as anyone I’ve seen in my time of playing. I think the way he, Macca (Brendan McCartney) and the rest of the coaches have set up the environment for us to learn and keep teaching us is the best I’ve seen hands down.”

Jones said Goodwin will probe the players in the right way to raise the bar to the next level.

“I think some of the stuff he does with his coaching is quite cutting edge,” he said.

“We got a taste of it (his coaching) in the [2016] pre-season and we’re all looking forward to it.”