AFL: Liam Jones meets with Western Bulldogs as potential homecoming looms after league relaxed vax rules

Liam Jones has secretly met with another AFL club after the league lifted its vaccination mandate. Find out the latest as he closes in on a return to the big time.

A homecoming for Liam Jones back to the Western Bulldogs is a step closer after a secret meeting at football boss Chris Grant’s Williamstown home.

The former Blue was spotted entering Grant’s house with his partner on Tuesday morning where he sat down with Dogs officials including list manager Sam Power.

Jones is in Melbourne to hold talks with a number of clubs after the AFL last week cleared the way for the vaccine-hesitant defender to play next year.

The Bulldogs desperately need to boost its tall defender stocks and there is a fairytale feel about a player who they developed for six years returning to the fold.

Jones, 31, played mainly as a forward during his 66-game stay at the Whitten Oval before moving to Carlton where his career took off when switched to defence.

Liam Jones has met with the Western Bulldogs in what could be a return to the club that gave him his start in AFL footy.

He walked away from Carlton after 95 games in seven seasons last November because of the league‘s vaccine mandate.

Jones has been playing for Palm Beach Currumbin in the QAFL.

He met Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro in Queensland last week with an eye to returning to the top level.

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Carlton has ruled out redrafting Jones with the Blues likely to seek compensation from the AFL given he’s now been given the green light to return.

Jones finished eighth in Carlton’s best and fairest last year after playing 19 of a possible 22 matches.

He rated elite among key defenders for one-on-one contests and intercept marks and above average for spoils and intercept possessions.

Liam Jones, aged 17, after his name was called by the Western Bulldogs on draft day.

Jones has been playing for Palm Beach Currumbin. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Essendon coach Ben Rutten last week confirmed his club was doing its “due diligence” around the possible recruitment of Jones.

The Bombers’ developing young backline has been exposed this year and are undersized.

“There’s some recent shifting in some of the rules,” Rutten said when asked about Jones on Friday.

“So it’s really just part of our due diligence as a club. Moving forward we’re looking at all avenues as to how we can improve our list and improve our squads.

“All that stuff will play out as the year goes on.”

The AFL opened the door for unvaccinated players including Jones and St Kilda AFL Women’s young gun Georgia Patrikios to return to training immediately, shifting its firm vaccine ruling to “strongly encouraging” all AFL and AFLW players and industry figures to have an up to date vaccine status.

Originally published as AFL: Liam Jones meets with Western Bulldogs as potential homecoming looms after league relaxed vax rules