Nathan Jones signs new contract with Melbourne, Demons hope to lure brother Zak from Sydney Swans
MELBOURNE will next year target Nathan Jones’ younger brother, Zak, after re-signing the hard-nut captain for another four years.
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MELBOURNE will next year target Nathan Jones’ younger brother, Zak, after re-signing the hard-nut captain for another four years.
Jones turned down the chance to test the free agency market at the end of next season with a new deal that ties him to the club until the end of 2019.
The early extension is believed to make Jones — a three-time club best-and-fairest winner — the highest paid player at Melbourne.
Jones has shown strong loyalty to the Demons, despite winning less than a quarter (41) of his 179 AFL games and advances from rival clubs.
Jones, 27, said it was only after a midyear meeting to discuss the club’s direction with Demons’ chiefs, including CEO Peter Jackson and senior coach Paul Roos, that he decided to commit for the rest of his playing career.
DEMON FOR LIFE | I love this club, my teammates and the supporters. I'm more motivated, dedicated and… http://t.co/WP7sRU7A3H
— Nathan Jones (@nathan2jones) December 17, 2014
Jones admitted his passion for the club had been tested amid the heavy losses in recent years but said he was intent on helping steer Melbourne towards a new era of success.
“There is no doubt at times (my confidence wavered),” Jones said.
“I think my wife (Jerri) has copped the biggest brunt of it, particularly after the losses.
“But, I’ve said this a few times, you regenerate some hope every pre-season and again this year, after the year we had, (although) we didn’t win as many games.
“But I really saw some steps in the right direction.
“The group is in the best position and the best shape that I have seen it in.”
The club’s recruiting team will next year turn its attention to luring his brother Zak, a second-year defender-midfielder from Sydney Swans, in a bid to unite the siblings at AAMI Park from 2016.
The speedy and hard-nosed ball-winner showed considerable promise breaking into a strong Sydney line-up to play four games in his first season.
The 181cm Dandenong Stingray was drafted to Sydney with pick No.15 and is contracted until the end of 2015.
Nathan Jones said he hoped the Demons’ renewed off-field stability and improved on-field performances would help it lure more quality players.
“I hope the success, belief and confidence that we can generate (ensures) we can become a destination club like Hawthorn,” Jones said.
“Hopefully we can continue to grow off-field and perform on-field and that will obviously attract talent and keep the talent that we’ve got.”
Jones said he and senior teammates Bernie Vince and Daniel Cross had rated some of the sessions under coach Paul Roos this pre-season among “the toughest of their careers”.
Jones said the Dees focused heavily on their defensive tactics last pre-season but had shifted the focus towards “developing our offensive side of the game” this summer.
“Obviously, every team is aiming for finals and I honestly don’t think that is too far out of reach for us,” he said.
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