Austinn Jones
| Austinn Jones | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Austinn Jones | ||
| Nickname(s) | Aussie | ||
| Date of birth | 28 September 1976 | ||
| Original team(s) | Beaconsfield/Southern Stingrays | ||
| Draft | 48th overall, 1994 National Draft | ||
| Height / weight | 176 cm / 82 kg | ||
| Position(s) | Wing, half back flank | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1995–2005 | St Kilda | 226 (127) | |
| International team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| 2004 | Australia | ? (?) | |
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1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2005.
2 State and international statistics correct as of 2004.
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| Career highlights | |||
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Austinn "Aussie" Jones (born 28 September 1976) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Australian Football League (AFL).
The 176 cm Jones played for the Collingwood reserves in the mid-1990s, but they were afraid to recruit him due to him weighing just 64 kilograms. "Aussie", as he is more commonly known, refused to give up on his dream to play AFL football, and was recruited to St Kilda in the 1994 AFL Draft. He made his debut in 1995 still weighing in at the high 60s.
In 1996 and 1997, Jones established himself as one of the league's better wingers/half-back flankers, with his pace and hard-running a big advantage for the Saints.
Jones played in St Kilda's 1996 pre-season final winning side – the club's first pre-season win.
Jones played in 22 of 22 matches in the 1997 home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the 1997 AFL finals, winning the club’s second minor premiership.
In 1997 he had a stellar year, Jones winning All-Australian selection.
In fact, Jones put the Saints in a very strong position, kicking a Goal of the Year contender with a magnificent long run and goal. At that stage the Saints had a comfortable lead and the Jones goal looked like the team would run away with the game. It was not to be, however, with the Saints forfeiting a half-time lead to lose the match.
Jones played in St Kilda's 2004 pre-season final winning side – St Kilda's second pre-season final win.
Jones career suffered from inconsistency in the following years, however in 2004, the first year St Kilda made the finals since 1998, Jones again won All-Australian selection and was back to his best. However Jones, even then, doubted whether he would be able to cope with the mental pressures of AFL football, and was even considering retirement.
In 2005 he suffered a major setback when he was dropped to the Victorian Football League midway through the year. Although he regained his form, Jones admitted that he was at his lowest ebb as a player at this stage. He fought his way back into the seniors and performed admirably during the Saints' late-season charge into the top four.
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