How Chayce Jones responded to the challenge in Tasmania and has rocketed into Round 1 calculations with the Adelaide Crows

Chayce Jones’ former coach Sam Lonergan has described Adelaide’s top draftee as the complete package and ready for AFL footy after responding to a mid-season challenge in Tasmania last year.

Chayce Jones after being drafted by the Crows with Pick No. 9 last year. Picture: Daniel Pockett (AAP).

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Chayce Jones’ former coach has described Adelaide’s top draftee as the complete package and ready for AFL footy after responding to a mid-season challenge with four best-on-ground performances in Tasmania last year.

Sam Lonergan, who coached Jones at Launceston in 2018 and has now taken charge of Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL, says the 19-year-old is as good a young prospect as he’s seen in his time in football which includes 81 AFL games with Essendon and Richmond.

Jones has rocketed into Round 1 calculations with the Crows after kicking three goals in two JLT Series games in the pre-season.

“He’s fantastic, as a character he’s rock solid and as a footballer he’s as talented and hardworking as I’ve seen,” Lonergan said.

“He ticks all the boxes, his work ethic and his appetite to absorb information is incredible because quite often you get young talented guys who sometimes can be difficult with that, but Chayce is so smart, he listens, learns, asks relevant questions and challenges at the right times.”

For Lonergan that challenge arrived mid-year when Jones returned to Launceston after playing in the under-18 national championships.

“Leading into the year I saw him as a half-forward-flank/wing, then I spoke with Chayce about two weeks before he was released from state duties and he’d been playing midfield in the under-18s,” Lonergan said.

Jones is congratulated by captain Taylor Walker after kicking a goal against GWS in the JLT Series game on Friday night. Picture: Tracey Nearmy (Getty).

“I went down the conservative path because I know the young guys have a fair workload with school and football and life, so I told him I would start him as a half-forward and let him progress into the midfield.

“And in true Chayce fashion he was very respectful of that decision but also challenged it. With a smile on his face he made me aware that he was right to go for midfield time.

“I went back and thought about it and decided to back him in and if he thought he was ready then I would give him ownership, so from day one I played him on ball.

“And he repaid everything he said he would with four best-on-ground performances in a row and caused trouble for the opposition with his speed and ability to exit stoppage.”

Jones finished second in Launceston’s best-and-fairest despite playing just six senior games for the season.

“He polled in the top two every game, maybe one he was top five,” Lonergan said.

“That tells you a fair bit about a kid who comes back into club footy and hits the ground running like that.

Chayce Jones wraps up the Giants’ Adam Tomlinson during their JLT Series clash. Picture:AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Chayce Jones in his Tasmania guernsey last year. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

“From an athletic profile he’s elite. His speed, endurance, agility, vertical jump and natural football instincts are all elite.

“I pencilled him in at the start of the year as a top 20 and from there it progressed. Leading into the draft I had him top 12 and then pick nine was fantastic to crack that top 10.

“There had been some minor conversations with the Crows but Hamish Ogilvie is pretty crafty, and I knew more about the Crows through Chayce and the conversations he’d had with them.

“He had a number of clubs approaching him in the back half of the year as you can imagine.”

Lonergan believes Jones would relish the chance to play AFL footy early in his first season if he gets the call-up.

“His mindset is capable of any challenge, Chayce will not back away from anything. The harder the challenge the more he will thrive,” he said.

“I believe he’s a 150-200 game AFL player, his resilience and work ethic, so the question is how quick do you get him in there? How fast can the Crows find a spot for him?”

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