AFL Rising Star 2024: GWS Giants’ Darcy Jones earns round 17 nod after 18 disposals in win against Carlton

Darcy Jones has played just 10 games in an injury interrupted start to his AFL career but GWS coach Adam Kingsley already likes what he sees in the round 17 AFL Rising Star nominee.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 06: Darcy Jones of the Giants controls the ball during the round 17 AFL match between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Carlton Blues at ENGIE Stadium, on July 06, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

If there’s a play that sums up Giants livewire Darcy Jones, it happened during the dying stages of the third quarter in the win over Carlton.

It wasn’t a runaway goal and it wasn’t his speed putting him into space. But with less than a minute to go and the Giants already in the ascendancy, Jones lifted himself off the ground and smothered a Zac Williams kick.

The moment sparked a GWS counter attack that led to Jesse Hogan’s fifth goal and a 12-point turnaround that proved vital for a match that finished with only two goals between the teams.

“That’s what I try to have front of mind,” Jones said. “That’s what I want the main theme about my game to be, smothers and pressure tackling, all that.

“The rest will come with it and take care of itself. The message was really getting after them and think defence first.

“(Kingsley) just wants speed in the game. I try to almost suffocate them and try and give them no time and space. I’ve worked hard on tackling technique, all that stuff to make sure I’m not getting stepped, and did a lot of work coming into this week.”

Pressure 🔥 pic.twitter.com/W70KHKyIAt

— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) July 8, 2024

Jones was one of many Giants who starred against the Blues, finishing with a goal, 18 disposals, seven score involvements and two tackles inside 50. The performance earned him the round 17 Rising Star nomination, which followed an incredible endorsement by his coach post-match.

“We’d like a few more (of him on the field),” Kingsley said.

“He hasn’t played a lot of footy, Darcy. It’s less than 10 games. The growth in him, and what he could become, is enormous.

“He’s got great speed, he’s got a real want to pressure and tackle. But he’s also a beautiful finisher. He’s going to be a really good player for us for a long period of time.”

Only two years into his career, Jones has already experienced more injury pain than most. After being selected with the 21st pick of the 2022 draft, an ACL injury ruled him out for his entire first season.

Jones immediately had a massive impact on the Giants’ attack. Picture: Brett Costello

He finally burst onto the scene this year in round seven against the Lions. But another injury, this time a hamstring strain, threatened to derail another campaign. Rather than focus on the negatives, especially when it was a soft-tissue injury for a player whose main weapon is speed, Jones’s optimism continues to guide him.

“I was so excited to come back into it,” Jones said. “I just wanted to bring that speed, pressure and tackling.

“My mindset when I get injured now is really positive. Obviously, I did my knee last year and I think if I’m doing injuries that are not too bad, like five weekers, I’m kind of grateful.

“Then, if the physios and doctors all say that I’m good to play then I’m always 100 per cent confident. There’s no way they’d ever send me out if I wasn’t 110 per cent ready to go.”

Jones played an important role in stemming the flow against the Blues last weekend. His goal right on quarter time gave the Giants the confidence that they could be within striking distance. The result by the final siren gave them the belief that their best footy is still good enough.

And while qualifying for finals is now the focus at the club, Jones knows that he still needs to think week by week.

Jones and his teammates finally found the intensity they’d been missing against the Blues. Picture: Brendon Thorne/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Having pace to burn will always help his selection case – “If we’re going off statistics, I do have the highest speed,” he joked – but being part of a team full of superstars is enough motivation to get better every week.

“We all play for each other,” Jones said. “If one person is pressuring, it makes it so much easier for the next person to do it, and that makes life easier.

“I think the game was a good reminder of what we can do if we play to our strengths. I’m hoping that can be just the start of a great run in the back end of the season. We were hungry for a win and to turn the season around.

“I want to keep doing what I’m doing at the moment, but take it to another level. Things like tackles, get more tackles. Pressure? Ramp it up. And being clean with the footy and no turnovers.

“I want to take everything to another level.”