Melbourne captain Nathan Jones to finally realise dream of leading Demons into finals after 12 years
THIS has been a long time coming for Melbourne and for Nathan Jones. After 12 years the Demons will finally play finals again and for Jones, it has been a long wait, 252 games to be exact. He reveals why he remained loyal even through the darkest times.
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THIS has been a long time coming for Melbourne and for Nathan Jones.
After 12 years the Demons will finally play finals after scoring an upset win over second-placed West Coast in Perth on Sunday.
Not since 2006 has Melbourne seen September action and neither has Jones, who played in two finals that year, his debut season.
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252 games later, the inspirational skipper has finally secured the opportunity to lead his team into a finals series and with one home-and-away round to play, by the time the first final arrives it will be 253 games.
It was fitting Jones played a critical role in the final term of the thriller at Perth Stadium to secure the victory that locked in Melbourne’s spot, given all he has endured at the club.
As he put it, the “monkey is off the back”.
“Being through the pain of the last 12 years, there was some sort of relief but now I can get behind this group of players and hopefully push us to some sustained success,” Jones said.
“What that is, who knows? Now the monkey is off the back if you like.
“At times when I thought about it (qualifying for finals) it almost did bring a tear. It’s been such a long, hard and at times unfulfilling road.
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“There’s times where you second guess the reasons why you play and even consider why you’re sticking around.
“A win like yesterday, watching the club grow into what it has over the last four or five years and being in the lucky position I am to help lead that is very gratifying, very fulfilling and something I’m very proud of.
“I’m just excited at the opportunity we’ve created out of our win yesterday, it’s something I’ve been dreaming of for a long time and I’m looking forward to it.”
Jones has played 260 career games and forged a reputation as one of the game’s toughest and best midfielders.
He has had numerous opportunities to leave the Demons and chase success at a rival club, and no one would have blamed him if he did.
But he remained loyal to the red and blue even through list rebuild after list rebuild and the sacking of numerous senior coaches.
The emotion of the moment is raw, it’s real and it’s honest.
“We got close under Dean Bailey but then that all fell apart,” Jones told 3AW.
“It’s been a really tough road but for me, even in the darkest of times sticking around as much as I could and hanging in there, I always felt that if I could see it out the other side that would be the most rewarding thing.
“I always thought that to leave and go somewhere else to find success but not be part of it really from the core and building it from the ground up wouldn’t be as satisfying or fulfilling.
“I’m proud to have stuck around and remained loyal. I love the place and I’m excited with where we’re at right now.”
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