Jones gets his medal

by LES EVERETT

WHAT a strange year it's been for medals in the WAFL.

c jones

Clint Jones. Winner of the 2005 Hughes Medal as South Fremantle's fairest and best player. Photo by Les Everett

First there was the slightly unusual tie between Jaxon Crabb and Toby McGrath in the Sandover Medal. It was only the tenth time in 85 years the WAFL's highest individual honour had been shared and the first time since the only triple dead heat in 1984.

However McGrath's decision not to attend the count seemed to set in motion a strangely connected set of events.

In the midst of South Fremantle's premiership celebrations at Subiaco Oval Clint Jones stepped forward to accept the Simpson Medal. There had, of course, been a mistake and Jones was ushered from the stage so the medal could be presented to the real winner who was, of course, Toby McGrath.

These events turned a full circle last Friday night at the presentation of South's fairest and best award the Hughes Medal.

The winner was, of course, Clint Jones who beat home Daniel Gilmore and Jaymie Graham in a close count.

When he spoke to the Rooster this week Jones said his initial reaction when it appeared he'd won the Simpson Medal was that he didn't deserve it.

The prestigious medal was hung around the 21-year-old's neck and he'd begun his acceptance speech before he was finally informed there'd been a mistake.

Jones said the embarrassment and disappointment of the official gaff didn't last long. "I was so pumped about winning the grand final that I was over it pretty quickly," he said, "the only thing that kept it on my mind was people bothering me about it later on."

McGrath brought the Simpson Medal back to mind on Friday night. "Toby said he should have jumped up and grabbed my Hughes Medal," Jones said.

A product of the South Coogee JFC, Jones was a dominant junior but when he didn't grow as quickly as others at 16 or 17 he thought his chances of a league career were slim.

However he progressed through South's development squads to the colts and things began to change.

"Probably about midway through my last year of colts I began to feel more confident," Jones recalled. "I made the league team at 18 and then kicked three goals in the colts grand final and I felt pretty good about myself."

The hard-running left footer has now played 60 games for the Bulldogs and said the premiership win was still sinking in.

"As the year went on the team gained in confidence and improved," Jones said, "we really thought there was no side better than us on a given day but it was a great relief when we won the grand final. To accomplish that was unbelievable. It was great for the club."

By playing in a South Fremantle premiership team Jones has continued a family tradition. His grandfather Alby Western was in the grand final winning teams of 1948 and 1950 and he played a few games for Richmond in 1952.

It remains to be seen whether any of the AFL teams have noticed Clint Jones. Meanwhile where was also drama at Moss Street on the weekend.

East Fremantle's Lynn Medal count finished with a triple dead heat and medals were presented to Kris Miller, Kasey Green and Andrew McGarry.

For Miller, the 2003 Herald Medal winner, the win brought an end to amazing run that has left him as Lynn Medal runner up for the past four seasons.

Green has also had his share of frustrations but battled his way into West Coast's team for the AFL grand final after being on the outer for most of the season. He showed the value of good WAFL form by being one of the best Eagles in the biggest game of all.

McGarry was rewarded for his consistency and versatility as he took on a variety of difficult roles in a tough year for the Sharks.

From the Fremantle Rooster.

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