The Box Hill Hawks continued their recent draft trend at the 2012 NAB AFL Draft with first year player Matt Jones being selected by Melbourne at pick 52. The Hawks have now seen 24 players recruited to the AFL via the various drafts and rookie selections since 2001, with Jones joining names such as Sam Mitchell, Michael Firrito, Ben McGlynn, Sam Gibson, Lukas Markovic and Ed Curnow who saw their path to the AFL helped by their time at Box Hill.
Jones was in his first season in the Peter Jackson VFL, having transferred back to his home state of Victoria after a year at Labrador in the NEAFL. Jones played 17 senior games for the Hawks this year, after starting the year with his first three games in Box Hill colours in the AFL Victoria Development League. The 25 year old secured his senior spot by holding down a regular spot in defence, and then later moved up the field onto a wing and into the midfield. He won the Box Hill Hawks most consistent award and finished fourth in the best and fairest, a great achievement for a first year player.
Prior to his trip interstate for football in 2011, Jones played over 90 games of senior football for South Croydon in the Eastern Football League, including senior premierships in 2006 and 2009, and a colts premiership in 2005 – the year he won the competition under 18 best & fairest.
Box Hill Hawks coach Damian Carroll told SEN he had been impressed by Jones’ development during the year, and his ability to work on early feedback.
“We were super impressed with Matty from day 1 and after probably round 4, he was looking at going back to local football as there were just three or four things that he had to work on and he was playing in our develop side,” Carroll said.
“As I said to him once he got his opportunity I wanted him to stay in the (senior) side and he did that and finished fourth in our best and fairest.
“He moved from the half back flank to the wing and eventually onball and had a terrific season.”
Carroll believes Jones went under the radar of most within the VFL, but the reliable player certainly produced the right results.
“By the end of the year he was averaging near 25 possessions. It is funny as he not had really been spoken about by anyone, even in VFL circles and I thought he should have been in the team of the year, and unfortunately wasn’t, and could have made the state squad, but he just goes about his business.”
Asked what sort of role Jones could fill at the Demons, Carroll believed it would be more in the middle.
“I think he would start in a wing position but having said that he has good run and carry and link up from half back, and has good foot skills on both sides of the body.
“I think he is a bit more outside the contest in his body shape, and I think in a full time AFL program he will continue to put on some muscle and size – he is a good height at 188 – but we did play him inside as I think it is good to have one inside mid who has a bit of pace and can run all day. We had a couple of strong onballers and he complimented them well.”
Carroll revealed that had Jones not been picked up in the Draft, he may have been lost to state league football next year.
“He was in a position where he would of found it hard even to play VFL football next season because of his work commitments increasing so for him to get an AFL opportunity is almost like a sliding doors theory where he could have been back at local footy even though we were desperate to keep him, he had to make a decision with his work but now he gets an opportunity.”
Melbourne’s Player Development & Strategy Manager Todd Viney said Jones’ height would add another size to their midfield. “He did not come through the elite pathway. We think the midfield is a little bit one-sized, apart from maybe (Colin) Sylvia and (Jordie) McKenzie. He is a 188cm midfielder who can play inside and out and has elite stoppage hands and is always on the move.”
Matthew Jones
Pick No: 52 (Melbourne)
Age: 25
Height: 188cm
Weight: 79cm
Junior Club: South Croydon
Peter Jackson VFL Season Statistics:
Games: 17*
Kicks: 213 (av. 12.5)
Handballs: 128 (av. 7.5)
Marks: 73 (av. 4.3)
Tackles: 42 (av. 2.5)
Highlights:
Won ‘Most Consistent Player’ for the Box Hill Hawks in 2012
Note: * Includes Finals
Last Modified on 29/11/2012 15:13