Maffra rising star Kieran Jones is leaving no stone unturned in preparation for tomorrow’s TRFM Gippsland League Grand Final clash with Leongatha.
The 19-year-old ruckman is gearing up for his second grand final in just his 26th senior game and his battle with opposite number Ben Willis looms as one of the most intriguing and defining matchups of the game.
Willis has been one of the Parrots’ most consistent performers for the past three seasons, but Jones has been doing his homework after coming up second best in their one-on-one duel in the second semi-final.
“I find him harder than some of the other good ruckmen in the competition because he’s more mobile,” Jones said.
“After the last game and watching the replay I worked out I was standing too tall against him. He’s shorter-bodied and if I go too tall he bodies me too easily so I’ll be working on that this weekend.”
It has been a rapid rise for Jones, who was a surprise inclusion for last year’s grand final.
After sitting out the first half of the season, Jones made just two thirds appearances before being called up to the senior side for the round 15 clash with Traralgon.
He played the final four games of the home and away season, then sat out the first three finals before being picked as a second ruckman for the decider against the Parrots.
Nerves hit the young ruckman hard ahead of such a big occasion for just his fifth senior game, but he said the experience would hold him in good stead moving forward and this time around.
“At the start of the game I was full on shaking,” he said of last year’s grand final.
“Once the siren went and I started to run around I calmed down and got into it.
“Even just knowing what it’s like and that there’s no need to be as nervous will be better and it stops you playing the game in your head as much beforehand.”
The departure of Brent Connelly opened the door for the number one – and only, bar the odd chop out from forward Andrew Petrou, skipper Daniel Bedggood or defender James Huts – ruck spot this season and Jones has grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
He played 15 of 18 home and away rounds and also pulled on the Big V jumper for AFL Victoria Country’s Under-19 Challenge Cup clash against the VAFA.
He was nominated for the AGA Rookie of the Year Award for his performances in July and in last week’s preliminary final he was a standout, using all of his 198cm and newfound endurance to good effect in gruelling conditions.
Having a former AFL ruckman in your corner certainly helps and Jones said the wisdom and guidance of ex-Brisbane, St Kilda and Richmond big man, now Maffra local Trent Knobel had been huge.
“He knows a lot, he played a fair bit of footy and he’s a really good bloke too which makes it easy to listen to and learn from him because he’s a good teacher,” Jones said.
“It’s lots of little things like going hard at boundary throw-ins and making sure I get front position and following up my taps which gives the midfielders more confidence that they’re not doing it themselves.”
After concentrating on his tap work and hitout numbers while building his fitness in the first half of the season, Jones has turned his attention to improving his contribution around the ground, including his overhead marking, with Knobel helping him read the ball better in flight.
Jones was thankful to Wayne Butcher and coaching staff for the opportunity and was determined to justify their faith on the big stage.
“Them having confidence in me to be the only ruckman puts expectation on you that you then put on yourself but you try to do it for them because you want to repay them,” he said.
“I’m nervous but you’ve got to go in with some confidence after the season we’ve had and the guys around me so I’m looking forward to it.”
Last Modified on 21/09/2018 20:22