Elite athletic traits have Harry Jones in hot demand at the AFL Draft
Compared to Nick Riewoldt by his school coach, Harry Jones has all the athletic traits that made “Saint Nick” a superstar but the Calder Cannons young gun prefers to model his game on another star forward.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Key forward prospect Harry Jones was equal parts embarrassed and excited when he was compared to Nick Riewoldt earlier this season.
At 195cm, the Calder Cannons gun certainly has all the athletic traits of ‘Saint Nick’, but instead models his game on three-time premiership Hawk Jack Gunston.
PEGS coach Clay Illman declared Jones had Riewoldt-like traits when he was a surprise inclusion in the Vic Metro squad.
DRAFT: VFL STARS READY TO STEP UP TO BIG TIME
LEADER: GET YOUR NAB LEAGUE FOOTY NEWS HERE
CANNONS: MOTT PROVES TALENT ON AND OFF FIELD
“I saw that. I had to have a talk to him about that,” Jones said jokingly.
“But honestly, I was pretty happy with that, it’s a big person to look up to and hopefully I can have a career like him.
“His running ability, I try to be as good as he was, but it’s players more like Jack Gunston I try to model my game on.”
Like Gunston, Jones projects to be a lead-up forward at AFL level who can hurt the opposition with his hard running back to goal.
Leading into the AFL Draft combine, the Gisborne junior was concerned about his testing but produced some outstanding results, showcasing his athletic traits.
Jones finished seventh overall in the 20m sprint, equal seventh in the yo-yo test and equal ninth in the running vertical jump.
Tipped to be a late first-round or second-round pick in the November 27-28 draft, Jones said he had plenty of improvement left.
“I’ve got a lot of improvement in my game still and put size on while keeping my fitness,” the Essendon fan said.
“I’m pretty excited actually, to try and put on weight and improve as a player.”
In four games for Vic Metro — predominantly as a key forward — Jones kicked four goals, while averaging 10 disposals, three marks and three tackles.
He returned to Calder for eight NAB League games and showcased his versatility, spending time forward and in the ruck, where he averaged 12 disposals, three marks and three tackles.
On top of his Metro and Cannons duties, Jones was also a key part of PEGS’ back-to-back AGSV premiership-winning team
“It was a shock (being picked for Vic Metro), I was never really in the system growing up,” Jones said.
“It all just happened towards the end of last year. I played the second half of the Cannons season and got added to the Metro squad.
“I’m pretty proud of myself, I’ve achieved some good things – made the Metro squad, won the AGSV premiership with PEGS.”
For all the latest news from the NAB League and other suburban competitions over the off-season, log on to localfooty.com.au