Jones’ career on brink
Playing future in limbo for Newtown recruit
ACE Newtown & Chilwell recruit Jordan Jones may not play this year and could be forced into an early retirement.
Jones, 29, had surgery on a ruptured meniscus in his knee last May and has family and work commitments that could rule him out of the Eagles’ premiership bid this year.
The former West Coast Eagles player said it was a possibility he may sit out the season.
He was sacked as Ocean Grove coach midway through his first season in charge last year and signed with Newtown & Chilwell, where he was previously aligned during his VFL days at Werribee and Williamstown, following the 2019 campaign.
Jones is attempting to start a family with his wife and said his work as a property investor, which includes weekend work, was also a priority.
“In a nutshell, it’s probably more the family reasons,” Jones said. “My knee, I got through most of pre-season before Christmas. I believe I could get through a footy season, but there’s just a higher risk than there ever has been.
“The surgery has healed but it’s not 100 per cent healed. It was never going to be 100 per cent healed post-surgery.”
Newtown & Chilwell coach Damien McMahon said Jones might hang up the boots.
It comes after it was revealed last month that star defender Alex Cincotta would undergo a knee reconstruction.
“At the moment, it’s looking unlikely he can continue to play football,” McMahon said.
“Probably if he doesn’t play any football this year, I wouldn’t imagine he would play football again.”
Jones said he would sit down with McMahon and discuss his future.
He said he would have mixed emotions about calling time on his career, which included two AFL games in 2010 and a WAFL premiership in 2013 with West Perth.
“I’m very happy with what I’ve achieved in my career so there would be no dramas if that was it, but there’s an element that I still love all the boys down at Newtown,” he said.
“They’ve got a good list and pushing (for) premiership success so I’d love to have an impact on that.”