Jack Jones

John Raymond Jones (7 November 1924 – 24 March 2020) was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League (VFL), who played for the Essendon Football Club.

Early life Born in Ascot Vale, a suburb deep in the Bomber heartland, he was the second youngest of six children. He saw his first game at Windy Hill in 1933 aged eight, the day Dick Reynolds debuted.

Military service Jones enlisted in the Second AIF on 15 December 1942, and served with the 24th Infantry Battalion in New Guinea and Bougainville, before returning home. He was discharged on 14 March 1946.

Career On his return from military service, Jones was cleared to Essendon from CYMS Football Association (CYMSFA) club Ascot Vale CYMS, and became a regular player. and won Essendon's best utility player award in 1946, 1947, 1949 and 1954 and the best clubman award in 1953.

Post-football career After leaving Essendon, Jones became captain-coach of Albury He then coached Kergunyah Football Club in 1960. He later umpired in the Albury & District League for two years.

He maintained a long association with Essendon over the years,

Jones died on 24 March at the age of 95. His granddaughter, football commentator Sarah Jones, noted the coincidence of the number 24 being the date of his death, the battalion he served in during World War II, and his jumper number when playing with Essendon.

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