Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Austinn Gregg Jones

Known as
Aussie Jones

Born
28 September 1976 (age 47)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 18y 186d
Last game: 28y 353d

Height and weight
Height: 176 cm
Weight: 82 kg

Senior clubs
St. Kilda; Australia

Jumper numbers
St. Kilda: 29, 5

Aussie Jones

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
St. KildaAFL1995-20052261270.5646%11.704.943.1132
AustraliaIR2004200.00
Total1995-20052281270.56

AFL: 10,576th player to appear, 433rd most games played, 829th most goals kickedSt. Kilda: 1,420th player to appear, 20th most games played, 38th most goals kicked

After being rejected by both Collingwood and Melbourne because, at just 66 kg (at that stage), he was considered too lightweight for league football, it proved to be third time lucky for Austinn Jones when he was picked up by St Kilda at number 48 in the 1994 National Draft. He made his AFL debut the following year, playing most of his early football as a crumbing forward, before being tried on a wing in 1996.

Boasting good ball skills, scintillating pace, and considerable courage, Jones proved a decided asset for the Saints as they developed into a competition pace-setter after several seasons of mediocrity. In 1997, St Kilda made the Grand Final, and during the opening term, with his side well on top, Jones capped a marvellous downfield run with one of the goals of the year, only for opponents Adelaide to hit back after half time to score a comfortable win. His fine Grand Final performance (he was widely regarded as St Kilda's best player) epitomised a memorable year which saw him named as a wingman in the AFL All Australian team.

In the years after 1997 Jones's form gradually dipped, and indeed he tended to make the headlines more for some questionable off field behaviour than for his football. In 2001, however, he was moved to the half back line with immediate telling effect, as his pace, verve and superb disposal skills made him one of the Saints' most conspicuous performers. He earned selection as an AFL All Australian for the second time in 2004, but the following year, after 226 AFL games and 127 goals in 11 seasons, and having only just turned 29 years of age, he surprisingly elected to retire.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.