LEADER Nathan Jones has ridden a wave of emotions in 2012.
He’s been part of a tough year, which has produced just four wins to date, yet he’s had his best AFL season since debuting in 2006.
Despite his own personal feats, Jones simply wants to be part of a successful Melbourne side and will play in any role to achieve team success.
“I’m pretty confident in my own form, but in saying that, it’s been so disappointing [this season] - I hate losing that much,” he said.
“To have only won three games this year … I just want to draw from as much individually as I can and then get back to the drawing board and continually improve.”
Although Jones was humble when commenting about his outstanding season, he did acknowledge that it was “probably” his best yet.
“I haven’t really had time to reflect on it, to be honest,” he said.
“I haven’t sat down and thought about it at all, but I’ve been pretty happy with the role that I’ve been playing this year. I’ve been able to play as an inside midfielder, compared to outside and on the wing, as I did in the previous year or two.
“I’ve really enjoyed that challenge personally … to be honest, I haven’t had time to think if it’s my best year personally, but I am really enjoying my footy - that’s one thing I can say.”
Jones is one of the leading contenders for this year’s Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy. Although he understands he is right in the mix for his first club best and fairest win, he hasn’t built up his expectations.
“I haven’t even thought about it, to be honest,” he said.
“I haven’t wanted that to be a distraction at all, because family and friends [have mentioned it and there has been] speculation. I haven’t really bought into it - I just want to improve for the team and be consistent with my performances every week.”
Jones, who along with first year co-captain Jack Grimes, was the only member of the 2011 leadership group to remain in the role this season, said he had relished his second year.
“Last season, I was really finding my feet in terms of being able to balance my own individual performance and still be able to influence others,” he said.
“I’ve been really worried about my own performance individually, and making sure I would lead by example. I’ve tried to do the right things, but this year I’ve been able to have more of an influence - not just by leading on field, but being able to impact off field.
“In terms of my leadership, I’ve been able to assist others, and care for others and help others get better. I think that can still improve, but as a group, we’re keen on giving feedback to players and helping them improve quicker.
“It’s been great working with Jade [Rawlings] and Craigy (Neil Craig) in the leadership meeting. It’s been good to gain a perspective on building an unconditional group, so we become a really strong leadership team among a successful team, which we’re working towards.”
Jones said that Melbourne’s final round against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium provided another opportunity for the team to improve on its interstate travel.
Despite Melbourne’s poor record at Patersons Stadium - it hasn’t won there since round 11, 2004 - Jones said his team needed to confront the challenge head on.
“It’s another challenge for us, and we want to get as much out of ourselves as we can for the rest of the year, because we need to practice to play interstate - it’s a really important thing,” Jones said.
“If we can learn to perform interstate, then you never know - down the track, we might have to play a final interstate and it could be that last round that you’re relying on.
“We’ve got to remain pretty confident, even though it hasn’t been a great year for us.”
In terms of his post-season plans, Jones is heading to Indonesia with teammate Rohan Bail on a surfing adventure.
“I’m going to Bali and then into the jungle to go surfing for a week or two, so I’ll be living on the edge,” he said with a laugh.
“Ro Bail is coming with me, and we’re going to Bali for 10 days and then ‘G-Land’, which is in the jungle off Java, so it should be fun.
“It’s really important to clear your head, because this year has been a really stressful one when reflecting on our performance.”
Despite Jones’ thirst for a post-season adrenaline rush, his determination to build on his game and help the team build is already driving him.
“It hasn’t been great, so we’ve got to go back to the drawing board, because we want to come back and attack pre-season, which is the main thing,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to going away surfing and keeping as fit as I can and stepping it up in that area, so I make sure I can come back ready for pre-season at the end of October. All the boys will be doing the same thing, once we get over this challenge from the weekend.
“The boys are getting ready physically and mentally for a long pre-season, so we can try and step it up next year. We really want to rectify the performances, which have been disappointing over the past few seasons.”
He’s been part of a tough year, which has produced just four wins to date, yet he’s had his best AFL season since debuting in 2006.
Despite his own personal feats, Jones simply wants to be part of a successful Melbourne side and will play in any role to achieve team success.
“I’m pretty confident in my own form, but in saying that, it’s been so disappointing [this season] - I hate losing that much,” he said.
“To have only won three games this year … I just want to draw from as much individually as I can and then get back to the drawing board and continually improve.”
Although Jones was humble when commenting about his outstanding season, he did acknowledge that it was “probably” his best yet.
“I haven’t really had time to reflect on it, to be honest,” he said.
“I haven’t sat down and thought about it at all, but I’ve been pretty happy with the role that I’ve been playing this year. I’ve been able to play as an inside midfielder, compared to outside and on the wing, as I did in the previous year or two.
“I’ve really enjoyed that challenge personally … to be honest, I haven’t had time to think if it’s my best year personally, but I am really enjoying my footy - that’s one thing I can say.”
Jones is one of the leading contenders for this year’s Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy. Although he understands he is right in the mix for his first club best and fairest win, he hasn’t built up his expectations.
“I haven’t even thought about it, to be honest,” he said.
“I haven’t wanted that to be a distraction at all, because family and friends [have mentioned it and there has been] speculation. I haven’t really bought into it - I just want to improve for the team and be consistent with my performances every week.”
Jones, who along with first year co-captain Jack Grimes, was the only member of the 2011 leadership group to remain in the role this season, said he had relished his second year.
“Last season, I was really finding my feet in terms of being able to balance my own individual performance and still be able to influence others,” he said.
“I’ve been really worried about my own performance individually, and making sure I would lead by example. I’ve tried to do the right things, but this year I’ve been able to have more of an influence - not just by leading on field, but being able to impact off field.
“In terms of my leadership, I’ve been able to assist others, and care for others and help others get better. I think that can still improve, but as a group, we’re keen on giving feedback to players and helping them improve quicker.
“It’s been great working with Jade [Rawlings] and Craigy (Neil Craig) in the leadership meeting. It’s been good to gain a perspective on building an unconditional group, so we become a really strong leadership team among a successful team, which we’re working towards.”
Jones said that Melbourne’s final round against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium provided another opportunity for the team to improve on its interstate travel.
Despite Melbourne’s poor record at Patersons Stadium - it hasn’t won there since round 11, 2004 - Jones said his team needed to confront the challenge head on.
“It’s another challenge for us, and we want to get as much out of ourselves as we can for the rest of the year, because we need to practice to play interstate - it’s a really important thing,” Jones said.
“If we can learn to perform interstate, then you never know - down the track, we might have to play a final interstate and it could be that last round that you’re relying on.
“We’ve got to remain pretty confident, even though it hasn’t been a great year for us.”
In terms of his post-season plans, Jones is heading to Indonesia with teammate Rohan Bail on a surfing adventure.
“I’m going to Bali and then into the jungle to go surfing for a week or two, so I’ll be living on the edge,” he said with a laugh.
“Ro Bail is coming with me, and we’re going to Bali for 10 days and then ‘G-Land’, which is in the jungle off Java, so it should be fun.
“It’s really important to clear your head, because this year has been a really stressful one when reflecting on our performance.”
Despite Jones’ thirst for a post-season adrenaline rush, his determination to build on his game and help the team build is already driving him.
“It hasn’t been great, so we’ve got to go back to the drawing board, because we want to come back and attack pre-season, which is the main thing,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to going away surfing and keeping as fit as I can and stepping it up in that area, so I make sure I can come back ready for pre-season at the end of October. All the boys will be doing the same thing, once we get over this challenge from the weekend.
“The boys are getting ready physically and mentally for a long pre-season, so we can try and step it up next year. We really want to rectify the performances, which have been disappointing over the past few seasons.”
