Chayce Jones pushing for opportunity to play as an on-baller for the Crows in 2020
Adelaide youngster Chayce Jones wants to cement his place in the Crows’ AFL side in 2020 and he knows what he needs to do if he’s going to break into the on-ball rotation in his second season.
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He was taken by the Crows with their prized first pick at the 2018 AFL National Draft and now, a year later after a low-key first season in AFL ranks, Chayce Jones is ready to show why.
At pick number nine, Jones was selected ahead of players including Port Adelaide pair Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma and Geelong’s Joran Clark, who all played more senior football than the Tasmanian in 2019.
But 180cm Jones, listed in his first season at just 77kg, has acknowledged he needed to add size to his frame in order to compete with the bulls of the AFL in his desired position as a midfielder.
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“I had a few games in 2019 which was amazing for experience,” said Jones, who played eight games at AFL level for the Crows.
“I want to push into the midfield, to make sure I’m going through there as much as I can.
“With that comes trying to get a bit more size, a bit better around the stoppages with my bodywork.”
He will also need to compete with a Crows midfield including Rory Sloane, Bryce Gibbs, Wayne Milera and the Crouch brothers, Matt and Brad.
But with the departure of big-bodied on-ballers Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Hugh Greenwood, Jones is likely to be given opportunities to show his ability around the stoppages.
“That’s the plan, play some good footy and cement a spot,” Jones told afc.com.au this week.
Jones came to the club with high expectations, as the Crows highest pick at the National Draft since John Meesen at pick eight in 2004.
And he showed the best indication of his talent in the Crows’ final game of 2019 when he gathered a season-high 18 disposals, four tackles and two goals.
Described by Sam Lonergan, his coach at former club Launceston, as “rock solid” and “as talented and hardworking as I’ve seen”, Jones, who turns 20 in January, is clearly motivated to show the competition what he is capable of in 2020.