2019 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[Blood Fever]

Today he had a poor game but his preparedness to take some risks and take opponents on usually pays more dividends than it did today. He just needs to find a better balance (than today) between taking the first option and trying to take opponents on. Sometimes players - all players - just have bad days, and this was one for Jones.

He also is one of the few players we have who is genuinely tough by nature .We have a lot of courageous players, don't get me wrong, but someone like him would be a significant loss in my opinion.

[stevoswan]

Today he had a poor game but his preparedness to take some risks and take opponents on usually pays more dividends than it did today. He just needs to find a better balance (than today) between taking the first option and trying to take opponents on. Sometimes players - all players - just have bad days, and this was one for Jones.

He has a few bad days.....how long do we wait?

[Markwebbos]

I'm a Jones believer. Having said that, a year ago losing Jones would have been catastrophic as we had so few explosive players. We feel like we've got a bit more of that in the team than we did. I really hope he stays.

The Channel 7 commentator at the start of yesterday's game said that we used to be an inside, contested side, but now we were more of an outside one!

[Hotpotato]

Jones goes from colossal to Clanger , I quite like what waiting to see which one eventuates.
Without Macca on the field , he’s one of the best at selling the dummy, although Rose showed that potential yesterday as well .
It’s a brilliant trait to possess .

[Ludwig]

The criticism of Jones is way over the top. He's easily having his best season, especially statistically. As a few others have said, he just needs to find the right balance of when to go and when to play it conservatively. The team has often been dependent on him to be the man to take the game on, but now we've a lot more than Jones in that regard, with several speedsters like Stoddart, Ling and McInerney, who all are fast and like to take the game on. Plus Cunningham will be back in the side soon. We will have a different look once these 4 are in the side.

Although Hayward's set shot has been off this year, he is contributing more around the ground. He's going to be a very good player.

Ronke has an uncanny knack for goal. He's been doing this in the ressies as well. I noticed that he really buried his opponent on a couple of tackles, something he needs to continue. There were a few times when I thought he let his men go by him too easily.

[Mr Magoo]

My concern isnt his ability to take the game on etc, its his disposal. He rarely hits a target . I see it so often at junior levels, guys who get plenty of the ball but then either dont choose the right option or dont deliver to the right spots. You start to question the utility of a player like that.

Dont get me wrong , he is tough, he runs hard and takes the game on but if at the end of all that he butchers the disposal , then there isnt much utility in it all and he certainly wouldnt sit as a central part of my midfield if he didnt improve that part of his game.

Even his goal was a low percentage shot. If you see the vision , Rowbottom charges to a spot 20 out on his own, Jones appears to look at him and then shoots at goal. Luckily he converted but for me the better option was rowbottom , 20 out straight in front.

[Markwebbos]

My concern isnt his ability to take the game on etc, its his disposal. He rarely hits a target . I see it so often at junior levels, guys who get plenty of the ball but then either dont choose the right option or dont deliver to the right spots. You start to question the utility of a player like that.

Dont get me wrong , he is tough, he runs hard and takes the game on but if at the end of all that he butchers the disposal , then there isnt much utility in it all and he certainly wouldnt sit as a central part of my midfield if he didnt improve that part of his game.

Even his goal was a low percentage shot. If you see the vision , Rowbottom charges to a spot 20 out on his own, Jones appears to look at him and then shoots at goal. Luckily he converted but for me the better option was rowbottom , 20 out straight in front.

I watched the game on TV and remember the commentators pointing out (in their opinion) Jones made the right decision because a Gold Coast player went and covered the Swans player in the goal square (Aliir). He did kick the goal. I was surprised he kicked it from there given how many he's missed running into goal from about 25m out directly in front.

I still think he's better than a lot of posters give him credit for on here. His stats from the Suns game: disposal efficiency 84%, clangers 5. Parker was 64.5% and 5. He was in the top 5 for disposal efficiency even if he did get caught holding the ball.

[barry]

I would say that Jones is one who opposition coaches put the most time into trying to negate too.

[Blood Fever]

I watched the game on TV and remember the commentators pointing out (in their opinion) Jones made the right decision because a Gold Coast player went and covered the Swans player in the goal square (Aliir). He did kick the goal. I was surprised he kicked it from there given how many he's missed running into goal from about 25m out directly in front.

I still think he's better than a lot of posters give him credit for on here. His stats from the Suns game: disposal efficiency 84%, clangers 5. Parker was 64.5% and 5. He was in the top 5 for disposal efficiency even if he did get caught holding the ball.

He obviously has been encouraged to take the game on and gains big metres when he does. Parker turns it over just as much some games but escapes criticism. Both very important players, especially with their hardness.

[KTigers]

I think we're going to need to accept that Jones is going to get caught holding the ball on at least one of his runs every
game. He's played 11 games this year, and given away 16 free kicks (not all holding the ball). Last year he played 19
games and gave away 22 free kicks. I don't those stats are that bad. Because he is running when he gets caught, the
action is much more noticeable than say Parker getting caught with it when diving on it in a scrum of players.

[bloodspirit]

Agree that it's great news. Let's get Hewett and Paps signed up to extensions ASAP. These guys are a big part of us moving towards a flag.

Totally agree these players are priorities and our future: Dawson, Hewett and Papley. They have all been massive this year, really stepping up while Heeney and Mills haven't stepped up as much as we would have hoped (for whatever reason including injuries and being played in unfamiliar positions).

I think Jones is good but if we got a good enough offer for him and he wanted to go I'd also be happy to let him go, much more so than with those other guys. Hedging my bets a bit because, that said, I'd be happy to retain him, especially because he is one of our relatively more senior and experienced players once we lose Macca, Kizza, Reg and maybe Smooch too.

[Markwebbos]

I think Jones has the potential to be another Dylan Shiel, who is also a bit dubious by foot. Although that goal on Saturday made me think is a matter of concentration rather than technique

[Mr Magoo]

I watched the game on TV and remember the commentators pointing out (in their opinion) Jones made the right decision because a Gold Coast player went and covered the Swans player in the goal square (Aliir). He did kick the goal. I was surprised he kicked it from there given how many he's missed running into goal from about 25m out directly in front.

I still think he's better than a lot of posters give him credit for on here. His stats from the Suns game: disposal efficiency 84%, clangers 5. Parker was 64.5% and 5. He was in the top 5 for disposal efficiency even if he did get caught holding the ball.

Agreed that Alliir wasnt the right option but rowbottam another thirty yards further out most certainly was IMHO .

Maybe its just an appearance thing . As you point out the disposal efficiency is actually quite good , but I find myself wincing at so many of his disposal choices through a game. I think its hard to compare Parker and him as many of Parkers disposals are in and under whereas as Jones seems to be in more open play.

I have no issue at all with him taking the game on and getting pinged occasionally , you have to expect that from that style of player.

[111431]

I think we're going to need to accept that Jones is going to get caught holding the ball on at least one of his runs every
game. He's played 11 games this year, and given away 16 free kicks (not all holding the ball). Last year he played 19
games and gave away 22 free kicks. I don't those stats are that bad. Because he is running when he gets caught, the
action is much more noticeable than say Parker getting caught with it when diving on it in a scrum of players.

My original comment re Jones was his constant ability to give away dumb free kicks -eg running in the protected zone. A couple of times you can excuse but he doesn't seem to learn

[stevoswan]

I think we're going to need to accept that Jones is going to get caught holding the ball on at least one of his runs every
game. He's played 11 games this year, and given away 16 free kicks (not all holding the ball). Last year he played 19
games and gave away 22 free kicks. I don't those stats are that bad. Because he is running when he gets caught, the
action is much more noticeable than say Parker getting caught with it when diving on it in a scrum of players.

I wonder if his team mates are screaming "You're hot!!" when he is HOT?!