By JARROD POTTER
ETCHING his name into Sydney’s backline fraternity, former Dandenong Stingray Zak Jones could not have asked for a better AFL debut on Friday night.
Playing alongside mentors Nick Malceksi, Rhyce Shaw and Nick Smith – Jones, 19, from Mount Eliza, was granted his first chance to don the Sydney Swans jersey and run out onto the Melbourne Football Ground.
It was Jones’ dream debut – Friday night football against the Tigers, on the greatest ground in the AFL and getting to sing the song and cop the Gatorade shower as part of the celebrations.
“It was probably the most nerve-wracking thing for me ever,” Jones said.
“My excitement probably took over… I was so stoked to be able to take that opportunity and they said ‘you could play on the MCG this week’.
“That’s the only place I really wanted to debut and so happy that I have debuted there.”
In front of a sea of family, friends and die-hard Swans’ supporters, Jones earned his first step onto the field in the third quarter – substituted for Shaw – and earned a bounty of six tackles and nine possessions in the 11-point victory.
“First moment of running out there and you hear the Swans crowd roar… the whole crowd – I can’t explain the feeling but it put goose-bumps down my back from having dreamed about it since I was a kid,” Jones said.
“It was something I always wanted and eventually it coming true it’s pretty daunting and scary, but once you’ve past those points and hear everyone yelling and hear everyone chanting ‘Swans’ – it’s probably the best moment of my life at the moment.”
Fitting into the Swans culture has been easy for Jones with the help of the older players who always make the time to guide his development.
“Lot of mentors and speaking to senior boys to see what I could do to step up to the next level and they keep telling me to do the basics and you don’t have to do anything special,” Jones said.
“Nick Malceski and Rhyce Shaw have always been there to help me out and direct me in the right way – those two are probably the main ones that have given me a lot of guidance.
“Nick Smith has also been unbelievable and is always there to help me watch footage of my reserves’ games… great to have people who are so welcoming and accepting at the club.”
Consistency for the rest of the season is his only true objective – with the former TAC Cup hard-nut happy to do whatever is asked of him by the coaches.
“Personally I just want to keep playing consistent football and hold my spot in the team but I’ll do whatever it takes and see what happens from there,” Jones said.
“I don’t mind – it’s up to Johnny (coach John Longmire) and he makes the shots and I just listen to him!”
Jones and his beloved Swans take on Greater Western Sydney in the local derby on Saturday night.
