EFL 2019: Chris Jones inspires South Croydon to a 26-point win over Noble Park
Could star South Croydon defender Chris Jones find his way into the EFL Premier Division Team of the Year after playing just half a season? His coach certainly thinks so.
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It’s no coincidence Chris Jones’ return for South Croydon has coincided with the Bulldogs remaining in the EFL Premier Division finals mix.
The star defender missed the first half of the year with a knee injury, but his importance to South Croydon is underlined by the possibility that he could make the Team of the Year after playing just half a season.
The Box Hill Hawks premiership player will stand Vermont spearhead Brett Eddy this weekend.
Eddy kicked 10 goals when the two sides last met in Round 7 in one of the great individual performances of 2019.
“He’s just so important to us,” South Croydon coach Luke McCormick said.
“I think he’s been our second best player every week and that’s only because Matt Jones and (Daniel) Cooper have been flying.
“He’s just crucial to us being able to set up down back and then move the footy forward.”
McCormick said Jones should be in the Team of the Year, despite possibly playing only 10 games for the season.
“If it’s purely based on the best players running around at the minute, then absolutely,” he said.
“He had 15 marks — 11 contested — (on Saturday). It’s just insane.”
South Croydon improved its record to 8-7 on Saturday after a 26-point win over Noble Park.
And Jones was again a standout in the 12.11 (83) to 8.9 (57) win, which ended the Bulls’ finals hopes.
McCormick had cause for concern when his side kicked just 0.4 by quarter-time before it produced a 31-point turnaround in the second term.
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But the result was soured by a knee injury to Max Warren in the first quarter.
“I’m hoping it’s not bad but it was more precautionary,” McCormick said.
“He didn’t come back on but he was a bit sore.
“That was the other pleasing part. We played three down (on the bench). Cooper and Matt Jones were phenomenal again and Chris Jones was enormous.”
South Croydon is one game outside the top five with three rounds remaining.
It will be up against it when it meets Vermont but could score percentage-boosting wins over Doncaster and Montrose.
“We’re just at a point now where everything counts,” McCormick said.
“Every single moment, every single contest counts and it’s sort of a good place to be in.”
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