โThereโs a range of emotions, whether it be anger, disappointment, frustration, pissed off, however you want to put it..."
These are the words from retiring Melbourne Champion Nathan Jones in the wake of the understanding that he won't be lacing the boots this weekend.
So close to playing a role in claiming the club's first flag in 57 long years, Nathan Jones claimed that although he was near heartbroken, but given calls from across the Nullarbor, Jones was faced with a monstrous decision.
Jones gave himself the best possible chance of selection, but knew where he stood when the Demons roared to a thumping 83-point win over Geelong and were unscathed by injuries.
Speaking on Fox Footy'sย On the Coach, Jones said his chances came down to "one of my other mates falling over at training" and explained "I wanted to be at home and be part of something pretty bloody special...Itโs a decision Iโll never regret.โ
"There's a whole range of emotions I'm going through... on the flip side of that, there's this huge amount of joy and pride in where the club is at now" โค๏ธ๐#couch pic.twitter.com/gHzEBtSkiU
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) September 20, 2021
Welcoming two more children to his bubbling family, Jones noticed his wife Jerri had been feeling a little different and pulled the trigger, making it home by "five or six hours".
When questioned by fellow a fellow former captain in Gary Lyon, the humble Jones pointed out the long suffering fans and said he was just as excited as them.
"I'll be there in spirit...cheering from afar," the hard-nosed retiree said of Saturday's outlook.
"Footyโs a ruthless bloody game and thatโs the position I find myself in".
Another tale to add to the history of football, Jones' decision will be remembered as one of selflessness and family centric.
