JONES SHARES JOY AFTER PUTTING TEAM FIRST

NATHAN Jones didn’t want to make the build-up to the grand final about him.

The now-retired former captain returned to Victoria well before the premiership decider, not only for family reasons but also to ensure the talk around Melbourne’s showpiece game wouldn’t be about him, Demons president Kate Roffey said.

The heart and soul of the Demons across more than a decade, Jones headed home after Melbourne’s preliminary final win to be with wife Jerri to welcome his third and fourth children – Odie Reign and Dove Margot – into the world.

Jones, 33, played 302 games for the Demons and helped carry a struggling club for years. He won’t be remembered as a premiership player but there will be a special place for Jones after his 15-year stint at Melbourne came to an end.

Players were quick to share the premiership success with him after the game, including a Facetime chat with teammates on the ground.

“He is probably more a part of this than I am,” said Jake Bowey, pointing at the medal he won in just his seventh game at AFL level.

“He is a legend and he deserves this more than anyone; to win it for ‘Chunk’ is amazing.” But Roffey said it showed the character of person Jones was that he made the selfless decision to head home.

“You talk about culture and part of Nathan not being here was to be with his family but he also knew that if he stayed here it would become about him rather than the team,” she said.

“And I spoke to Nathan and he said ‘I want those boys to win, I won’t be there in person but I will be willing them on to win’.

“And that is the selflessness of people at this club.”