Introduction
Zachary Jones (born 15 March 1995) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by the Sydney Swans with the 15th overall selection in the 2013 national draft. He is the younger brother of former Melbourne captain Nathan Jones.
Jones played for the Dandenong Stringrays in the TAC Cup and was a joint-winner of the Most Valuable Player for Vic Country at the 2013 AFL Under 18 Championships and was named in the All-Australian team. He made his senior debut against Richmond, at the MCG in round 14 of the 2014 AFL season.
In 2016, he was able to overcome an ankle injury and a severe concussion through the season, and was selected to play in the 2016 AFL Grand Final, cementing himself a spot in the team.
Coming out of contract at the end of the 2019 season, Jones requested a trade to St Kilda. Swans CEO Tom Harley said of Jones "everyone knows within footy circles he comes from a really strong and tight family and his desire to return to Victoria is to be closer to his family. St Kilda is the club that has expressed interest and Zak has let us know that, he has been really transparent about that...We actually had some challenges in re-signing him last time so this wasn’t totally unexpected."At the conclusion of the 2019 AFL season, Jones and pick 56 was traded to St Kilda for pick 32, 76 and a 2020 3rd Round pick.
Jones made his St Kilda debut in Round 1 of the 2020 AFL Season against North Melbourne. Jones left the field early in the Saints' Round 4 win against Richmond, and missed the Round 5 win against Carlton as a result.
Statistics
- Statistics are correct to the end of the 2019 season
| G | Goals | B | Behinds | K | Kicks | H | Handballs | D | Disposals | M | Marks | T | Tackles |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | ||||
| 2014 | Sydney | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 3 | 7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 7.3 | 0.8 | 1.8 |
| 2015 | Sydney | 10 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 49 | 118 | 20 | 27 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.3 | 4.5 | 10.7 | 1.8 | 2.5 |
| 2016 | Sydney | 10 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 153 | 85 | 238 | 33 | 52 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 9.6 | 5.3 | 14.9 | 2.1 | 3.3 |
| 2017 | Sydney | 10 | 23 | 10 | 6 | 256 | 202 | 458 | 109 | 79 | 0.43 | 0.26 | 11.13 | 8.78 | 19.91 | 4.74 | 3.43 |
| 2018 | Sydney | 10 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 194 | 176 | 370 | 76 | 35 | 0.32 | 0.16 | 10.21 | 9.26 | 19.47 | 4.00 | 1.84 |
| 2019 | Sydney | 10 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 217 | 163 | 380 | 68 | 66 | 0.18 | 0.41 | 12.76 | 9.59 | 22.35 | 4.00 | 3.88 |
| Career | 90 | 23 | 17 | 900 | 693 | 1593 | 309 | 266 | 0.26 | 0.19 | 10.00 | 7.70 | 17.70 | 3.43 | 2.96 | ||
Injuries
- Zak got injured against North Melbourne in 2019, tweaking his left hamstring after receiving a shove from Jed Anderson.
- Jones in 2016 missed 4-6weeks after a high ankle sprain which he suffered in a match against Hawthorn at the SCG