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John Jones: "Right place, right time" for 1984 Country Championship glory
John Jones says his inclusion in the Goulburn Valley’s Country Championship team of 1984 was the ultimate case of “right place, right time”.
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In what was a whirlwind of a year, Jones ended up playing in four different teams in about six weeks leading up to the Country Championships.
“That year, I played with a lot of teams,” Jones said. “And I had just moved to Tongala.
“Really that year, I was at Footscray, then went back to my old team in Melbourne, and then played a rep game for Victorian Amateurs.
“I went back and played a couple games for Tongala, and then ended up getting picked for the Goulburn Valley team.
“We won, which was even better, but I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time.”
Jones went on to play several seasons of representative football with the Goulburn Valley in the following years.
But it was that first season in the country league, and Jones’ “so-called” unexpected representative call-up, that captured him plenty of on-field success.
“It was a big couple of weeks,” Jones said.
“I joined Tongala on the last day you could, June 30, and then was playing for the GV team a couple weeks later.
“I was very lucky to get picked after two games at Tonny, but obviously they had heard of me before I came up.
“Moving up and playing for the Goulburn Valley in the Winfield Championships, to then 10 weeks later playing in the Goulburn Valley grand final — it was special.”
With Tongala coming off the 1983 premiership, Jones helped the club claim back-to-back flags in 1984, which ended up being up Tongala's last flag.
“They were probably the best team I played with; Tonny in 84 and 85,” Jones said.
Walking into a new team every other week that year presented its own challenge, though it was one that Jones ultimately took in his stride.
“I kind of knew a couple guys anyway, your Andy Prestons and Stephen Wells from Echuca,” he said.
“I had been living in Melbourne, but I used to come up and watch Tony play so I knew a couple of guys before I came up.”
Playing under coach Rowland Crosby throughout the championship, Jones and the team ultimately succeeded in winning the GV League's its second-ever title.
“Roland was a good bloke, I liked him; he was good to me,” Jones said.
“I think I played centre that day, but I played a lot of different positions.
“You just did your job, whatever you were asked to do.
“I played backline earlier, that day I think I played centre, and by the end of the career I was playing forward.”
Jones said the standard of the Goulburn Valley League was particularly strong in that era, though altogether a very different style of play from his years in Melbourne.
“It was more physical in the Goulburn Valley,” Jones said.
“Down in Melbourne was great footy, but was a different style, a bit quicker.
“It took me a while to adjust when I got back, but I played with Tonny for two-and-a-half years.
“Then went and played at Echuca — they were a great club, then on to Moama.”
Jones ultimately remembers his years of playing football, and the many times he lined up alongside brother Tony, as great times.
“You always wanted to play the best football, so it was great to play and train at the best level,” he said.
“They were good times, but you kind of forget those things. It was a long time ago. “
One thing Jones hasn’t forgotten is the one time he played against his brother.
“I think it was 1982 where Tony and I played each other in a rep game,” Jones said.
“He was playing for Victoria Country and I was with the Amateurs.
“I played with him a lot at Tongala and Echuca and when we were in Melbourne, but I suppose you remember the time you play against each other more and that was the only time I remember we did.”
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