Crazy to think he is still 21 (turns 22 tomorrow.) I think on potential, he is the most likely on our list to be a superstar. Who knows what his ceiling is. Being the 3rd tall behind Wright and Weideman and playing further up the ground will speed up his development this year for sure.
I have zero worries that heās going to be a gun. Just needs games
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If heās playing VFL this year Iād like to see him have good stints in the ruck. I think heād do well there from what Iāve seen of his forward half rucking.
If he can have a clear run without injuries (I know, I know) and recapture and exceed his 2021 form then I would have him in front of Wiedeman. Better contested mark IMHO and more mobile.
Itās just the I know, I know part I mentioned earlier.
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I think for him itās all going to be about building up a strong enough frame and his body being able to hold up to carrying that around.
Is that going to happen? At this stage āpossiblyā is about as bullish as I can get.
Heās got the talent if he can get that right but heās going to be a real slow burn. He needs at least another 2 full preseasons, probably 3.
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Just give me the same Harry Jones that single handily dominated Hawthorn a few years back.
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Sorry mate I just canāt see it
You got it. Still a very light frame. No way he can hold his ground. Just a balance between running capacity and strength
Just give him a new foot as heāll be apples
Not sure I agree. If heās got foot issues maybe bulk just isnāt for him. Hird wanted to be Carey but dropped the beef when it didnāt work for his foot. Jones is one inch taller and one kilo heavier than Jack Gunston, I reckon maybe thatās more his natural body shape and game style. His ācontested markingā is more floating across the front of the pack in that Royce Hart picture style.
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Thatās a fair point, but, Gunston played his best footy as a 3rd tall or a medium sized quick lead up forward.
We need a second legit kpf and Jones needs to add some beef to be that, or we need to find someone else.
if Jones becomes are great 3rd tall / hit up half forward great. But he still needs to prove his durability and get a bit stronger. And we need to find another kpf.
The club needs to work out pretty quickly what they want Jones to be. Iām worried theyāre going to break him trying to turn him into something heās not.
As it stands I think the club has designs on Jones as genuine key forward which means they are going to try to continue to put weight on him.
Iām still just not sure Jones has the craft to be a legitimate KP forward. A key forward that relies on being able to have an unencumbered leap at the ball across the front of a pack is very easy to defend.
Yes he pressures well for a tall, but we now have 3 or 4 small options who can do the majority of the chasing anyway.
I donāt think heās a lock for the best 22 and I wouldnāt be against developing him in the VFL and making sure heās spending a lot of time on craft with Travis Cloke at training.
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The Jones conundrum is that in 2021 he was our fifth forward after more attention needed to paid to Hooker, Tippa, Stringer and Peter.
When he played last year we pretty much only had Peter. So instead of being able to play unopposed or on a teamās fifth best defender, he gets more attention and his contested marking ability is tested.
Hopefully he stays fit and can improve, because his athleticism and set shot kicking are better than most.
So no weid?
IIRC he played a bit of ruck as a junior. His lack of size would be an indicator that it wonāt work but i also would like to see it tried in the VFL.
Doesnt sound like us at allā¦
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Iām a big Jones fan but he absolutely needs to pull his finger out.
I was surprised to hear heāa known as a big party-er amongst AFL players.
I think quite a few of our players are and that makes you question the professionalism of our players
This guy over Voss. Seriously?
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No doubting his talent but id take Paddy over him at the moment. Heās not even half fit.
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