Harrison Jones on Essendon finals hopes and new wing role as Essendon looks to re-sign young gun

Harrison Jones has endured an injury-hit run during his time at Essendon. But deployed as a wingman by coach Brad Scott in the past months, the young Bomber is finally thriving and on the cusp of securing his long-term future.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 23: Harrison Jones of the Bombers in action during the 2024 AFL Round 15 match between the Essendon Bombers and the West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium on June 23, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Essendon young gun Harry Jones has urged Bombers fans to turn up in force for Friday night’s clash with Adelaide, saying the players believe Marvel Stadium has become a fortress for the club this season.

The Bombers have won seven games in a row at their home venue – including five this season – and haven’t dropped a game there since a two-point loss to Sydney last July.

Having lost four of their past six matches, Jones said the Bombers were eager to return to their home base and get back to the sort of football they were playing earlier this year.

“It definitely feels like a fortress when you are on the field,” Jones said of Marvel Stadium.

“It’s like a big dome and it’s so loud and enclosed.

“We love playing at the MCG, but there is just a bit of a different feel at Marvel. It doesn’t matter who you are playing against, it just feels as if they are all Bombers fans inside.

“When we have been up and going this year, it’s probably been the loudest I’ve heard our crowds be throughout my career. The players feed off that, we love it.”

Harrison Jones high fives fans after the win against West Coast. Jones says Marvel Stadium has become a ‘fortress’ for Essendon. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

Jones, 23, has put together the richest vein of form in his five seasons since being drafted as pick 30 in the 2019 draft.

The clash with the Crows will be his 16th game this year, playing in attack for the first part of the season before spending a large slice of his time on the wing after the mid-season discussion with coach Brad Scott.

His last four games predominantly on the wing have seen him boost his disposal count by +81%, his uncontested possession count by +135% and his marks by +57%.

Jones has importantly reached a contract trigger to unlock an extra year in 2025, but the Herald Sun can reveal the Bombers are already looking at extending his deal deeper in the future.

“I think the trigger was put in place because I haven’t had a lot of time on the field,” he said.

“I have reached that (trigger) now, which is nice. There has been a bit of talk about an extension but all I am thinking about at the moment is playing some more footy.”

His move to the wing has been part of the Bombers’ plan to be more flexible across the board, which has made 196cm Jones an awkward match-up for opposition teams.

“Brad spoke to me (around the bye period) and floated the playing on the wing and I was like ‘Yeah, that sounds good’,” he said.

“I played a similar role on that ‘fat-side forward’ in some games. I did a training session there and watched some vision with the midfield coach. I’ve loved being up the ground.

Harrison Jones is reaping the rewards of a full pre-season, and is on the cusp of 50 games in red and black. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“That’s one thing we have been big on this year, bringing versatility to the group.”

Given Jones’ frustrating injury issues since joining the club, he’s happy to be finally getting some good game continuity.

Having played 16 games in his debut season of 2021, injuries meant he played 10 in 2002 and five last season when he had stress fractures in his back and an ankle reconstruction.

“It’s been a tough couple of years, with my ankle and my back,” he said. “I would have loved to have played more footy and not get injured, but I think I have learnt a lot about myself in that time.

“It was difficult for me mentally … As much as you still love the game, it is hard to find the drive when your season is ruled out and you are on the bike in the chamber (at the Hangar). I dug pretty deep, to be honest, and had some good chats with Brad and with some of the higher ups at the club about where my career could potentially go.”

Brad Scott has backed Harrison Jones to thrive on the wing. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

Jones is now reaping the rewards of a full pre-season, which gave him the confidence to attack this season with renewed confidence.

So much so that Friday’s game is his 47th for the club, edging closer to within three of the 50-game milestone.

He has missed only two games this season – one through a dangerous tackle ban which the Bombers desperately wanted to challenge but ultimately chose not.

“If you had asked me when I got drafted when I expected to play my 50th game, I would have said in year three or four, but things haven’t gone my way,” he said.

“What it has done is make me grateful every time I run out there, knowing how much I have put into it.”

He’s hoping his experience of winning the battle with his body can provide a template for his housemate Zach Reid next year.

Reid, who was drafted the year after Jones, has been sidelined again with a pectoral injury, having played just nine games in four seasons.

“Reidy is going to be a monster once he is back, I am excited to see him play and I hope all the Essendon fans are keen to see him get some continuity in his body,” he said.

Darcy Parish, Harrison Jones, Jake Kelly, Jye Menzie and Mason Redman sing the song after Round 3. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

Jones’ father, Craig, played under 19s with Essendon, but his mother barracked for Collingwood, so he had to make a call on who he would support when he was a kid.

James Hird inadvertently solved the dilemma in 2004 when Jones was only three years of age. He watched as the Essendon champion ran to the fence to celebrate with a Bombers fan 20 years ago after kicking the game-winning goal against West Coast in round 3.

“When James Hird hugged that bloke in the crowd, I think that was the turning point for me barracking for the Bombers,” he said. “I was on board after that.”

Jones is confident Essendon can get back on track after last week’s loss to Melbourne.

“As a playing group we want to play in and win finals, but we are trying not to look too far forward right now,” he said.

“We just want to focus on the next game, and for us, that’s the Crows this week. If we look too far ahead, it takes away from how we want to play now.”