Reliability … Liam Jones has become a regular for the Western Bulldogs after playing most of last year with Williamstown. 47846 Picture: SARAH MATRAY
By Michael Esposito
LIAM Jones has only played 13 games for the Western Bulldogs but has had to quickly adjust to being a focal point up forward.
With Barry Hall’s ankle injury keeping him on the sidelines, Jones has been front and centre in a depleted forward line.
Compare last year’s experienced forward set-up, which included a fit Barry Hall, Brad Johnson, Mitch Hahn and Jason Akermanis, to this year’s, which in recent weeks has had the likes of defender Tom Williams trying his hand as a key forward and midfielders filling the gaps.
“This year there’s only a few of us who are permanent forwards – me, Jarrad Grant, Giansiracusa – everyone else has sort of come down from the midfield so I think we haven’t really got have that permanent forward line,” Jones said.
“With Baz (Barry Hall) being injured as well it sort of puts a bit of pressure on me and Granty, so we have to be the tall targets.”
Jones, who debuted in round 18 last year, said he felt much more like a bonafide AFL player this year.
“My main goal at the start of this year was just to do better than I did last year. I just wanted to make sure I kept on improving and just get a good pre-season and get the fitness up.
“This year it’s been good to hold down a permanent spot, not be in one week and back at Williamstown the next week so it’s been good that the coaches have had that trust in me to play every week and that way I can play better football.”
Jones conceded he still hadn’t found the consistency required at AFL level.
“I still think at times I can go a couple of games good and then I’ll have another game bad so I think I just need to work on that consistency,” he said.
While the absence of Hall has led to a heavy reliance on inexperienced players to kick winning scores, Jones has relished the opportunity to be the go-to man.
“The first two games I played this year I didn’t really do too much but I was fortunate enough to get a second chance with Barry not being in the side, it gave me that opportunity to possibly stand up and play a bit better football.”
Jones has given the Bulldogs faithful reason to be hopeful in what has been to date a disappointing year for the proud club. He has added an aerial presence and much-needed pace to the forward line.
The boy from Tassie, who came to Melbourne on a Scotch College scholarship and was picked up by the Bulldogs at the end of Year 11, said it took a while to establish himself at VFL level before he could earn a spot in the senior side.
“I started off the year really slow with Williamstown I just wasn’t really playing consistently. I just had a break-out game against Geelong in the VFL and that was the first time I even thought I was being considered because they told me I was in the mix,” he said.
Jones said Williamstown coach Peter German had similar traits to Rodney Eade.
“He’s similar to Rocket in some ways, he won’t really beat around the bush. He’ll be critical as well and he’ll let you know everything that you’re doing wrong and the things you’re doing right as well, and I think you need that coaching so you don’t always think that you’re doing well and you can’t get comfortable.
“You need those coaches that keep you on edge so you’ve always got something to work on.”
Forward line pressure is something Jones has identified as something he needs to improve.
“Players are getting so good and the skills are so good that if there not that pressure then any team can just run it up the ground very easily.”
