Melbourne players take time to enjoy drought-breaking win over Hawthorn

NATHAN Jones wants Melbourne’s drought-breaking win over Hawthorn win to define the club and said the week that preceded the boilover “set a new standard”.

Nathan Jones. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

MELBOURNE captain Nathan Jones wants Saturday’s win to define the club.

Before the drought-breaking win over Hawthorn, the 28-year-old hadn’t defeated the Hawks in his decade at the club, but he hopes it is remembered as a turning point.

“It’s something that we can look back and say ‘there was that time in 2016 versus the Hawks where Melbourne really came to the fore and got their game together and was able to knock off the top team’,” he said.

“I hadn’t been part of a win like that, and hopefully it’s something that drives us to become great, which is what we’re striving to be and pushes us to greater levels over the next couple of years.

“It was a huge step in the right direction for us, and probably a pretty significant one with such a young group and building club. It’s very promising.”

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Jones said the week that preceded the 29-point boilover “set a new standard” for the Demons that they will be looking to carry into next season and beyond.

“The players prepared to the best level I’d seen in my time here, as did the coaches and support staff,” he said.

“We had a really strong week as a club and set a new standard.

Nathan Jones hopes Melbourne’s win over Hawthorn is a turning point for the club. Picture: Getty Images

“We’ll be looking to use the weekend’s performance in particular and coming off two wins in a row to try and drive our performances for the rest of the season. A lot can be achieved in that time to propel us as a club over the short term and hopefully the long term.”

A battle looms to keep the playing group together, with star defender Tom McDonald out of contract at season’s end.

Jones insisted he is a “required” player that will re-sign - and soon.

“With his brother Oscar here and him being in the leadership group and being a super-important player for us, I don’t have any worries that he won’t re-sign,” he said.

“I think he’s just going through and doing his due diligence, as the club would be and I’d expect something to be announced hopefully in the short term. Both Tom and Oscar are required players for us and it showed on the weekend - with them playing well, they could form the key figures in our backline for the next eight or 10 years.”

Key forward Jesse Hogan is expected to return for this Saturday night’s clash with Port Adelaide, with Jones admitting his anticipation at seeing Hogan and Sam Weideman - who kicked two goals on debut on Saturday - lining up together.

“I’m sure all our Melbourne supporters are excited – I know the club’s excited – to see Weids and Jesse play in the same team,” Jones said.

“Having spoken to Jesse, he was disappointed he couldn’t be out there for Weids’ first game because they’ve both been excited about the prospect of playing together.”

Originally published as Melbourne players take time to enjoy drought-breaking win over Hawthorn