Keeping up with the Jones
By Luke Holmesby
1:15 PM Fri 13 June, 2008
![Image](http://mm.afl.com.au/Portals/0/images/AFL/AFL%20P-T/jonesy_b.jpg)
AS AN impatient football world puts insane amounts of pressure on teenagers to excel at AFL level, Clint Jones is proof that sometimes all you need is a little patience.
Jones was rookied by the Saints at the end of the 2006 season at the age of 22. Considered young in just about any other walk of life, 22 is ancient in the world of football drafting.
But Jones has had to work for his opportunities after several years with South Fremantle in the WAFL, before the Saints took him with their first rookie pick in 2006.
He said he was disappointed not to be picked when many of his peers had gone before him.
“At 18 I thought I was a chance to get drafted. That year South Fremantle colts won the Grand Final and I had a pretty good game so I was a bit hopeful. It didn’t eventuate but from then on I went through the ranks, played league footy for South,â€