Liam Jones | 2020 Season Review
Written by Joseph Addamo
Throughout the 2020 off-season, Blue Abroad will be providing content to cover everything you need to know about the Carlton Football Club.
After a largely improved season, we will be reviewing every player that pulled on the famous Navy Blue guernsey in 2020.
This is the Blue Abroad Player Review for Carlton’s #14 – Liam Jones.
SEASON SYNOPSIS
A revelation in Carlton’s back six since making the switch in 2014, Liam Jones finished the 2020 season as one of Carlton’s most consistent defenders. In his most complete season to date, Jones played every game and showcased the full extent of his intercepting ability and athleticism.
Among key defenders across the AFL, Jones ranked elite for one percenters per game (9.9), contested marks (1.3), intercept marks (2.8), spoils (8.8) and contested defensive one-on-one contests (5.2), losing just 9.1% of these one-on-ones. He was also ranked above average for tackles (1.4) and intercept possessions (5.8).
Jones will turn 30 in 2021, but he’s showing no signs of slowing down. Playing just 142 games in his stop-start career to date, there’s still plenty left in the tank for the Blues’ forward-cum-defender.
BEST PERFORMANCE
While Jones had moments that frustrated fans in 2020, for the most part he showed his full worth as one of the Blues’ defensive stalwarts. He was ranked first at the Blues for spoils, intercept possessions and marks, total contested defensive one-on-ones and lost the least amount of these contests among defenders.
His best game came in Round 5 in a loss to St Kilda. Playing on Tim Membrey for the majority of the night, he kept the Saints forward to just one goal. Jones finished with game-highs in intercept possessions (9), marks (11), intercept marks (7) and contested marks (5), as well as team-highs in score launches (2) and one percenters (7).
While not polling on Brownlow night for his performance, Jones was clearly Carlton’s best defender on the night, and arguably the BOG overall for the Blues.
OFF-SEASON & 2021 OUTLOOK
Jones signed a three-year contract extension with Carlton in 2019, tying him to the club until the end of the 2022 season. There is no indication that Jones will be shopped around on the trade market any time soon, and it can be expected that he lines up in the best 22 every week in 2021.
For the first time in his career at Carlton, Jones was voted into the leadership group at Carlton for 2020, alongside co-captains Sam Docherty and Patrick Cripps, as well as Ed Curnow, Sam Walsh, Marc Murphy and key defensive compatriot Jacob Weitering. It highlights the stature Jones upholds at the Blues, with the potential to hold his spot in this group for 2021 and beyond.
Currently with 76 games in Navy Blue under his belt, and assuming the season reverts to the usual 22 game fixture, Jones will be pushing the 100-game barrier and etching his name on the #14 locker. With a bit of luck, this could even be achieved with a hopeful finals berth in 2021.
2020 REPORT CARD RATING
A-
STATUS HEADING INTO 2021
Consistent Senior Player
