The Western Bulldogs already have a fan favourite in Arthur Jones, exemplified by epic – and wholesome – post-match scenes on Thursday night.
The livewire Jones provided a dynamic spark for the Dogs in his AFL debut in the club’s 14-point win over Brisbane. That energy continued into the post-game celebrations, where Jones celebrated with the Bulldogs fans by taking selfies and dishing out high fives well after the final siren.
In fact, the entire Dogs side had to wait for him to finish embracing with the faithful, who gave the youngster a huge round of applause when he ran around the boundary line to join the rest of his teammates as something of a victory lap, before they headed down the race.
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“He’s still going!” Montagna said of Jones’ celebrations on Fox Footy.
“This is what you love, a kid who’s just pumped to be out on the football field. He’s just taking it all in … he hasn’t wiped the smile off his face since his first tackle.”
Indeed, Jones lapped up every moment of his first game in a joyous night for the Dogs that saw them record their first win of 2023 after facing considerable pressure this week
“He’s doing a whole victory lap! But that’s the enthusiasm you’re looking for. I reckon it’s brilliant. It’s great footage,” Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall added.
The 19-year old Jones failed to make a senior appearance in his first season after getting drafted with Pick 43 in the 2021 National Draft, and was overlooked at selection in the opening two rounds of 2023.
But the lively Bulldog’s debut was worth the wait, and you sense he’ll provide ample more exciting moments ahead – both in game and out.
“He’s an absolute ball of energy, ‘Arty’,” Bulldogs defender Bailey Daley told Fox Footy post-match.
“I get to sit next to him in the locker room and he brings a lot of energy. He’s a great kid to have around and he’s just starting his journey. He played a really critical role for us tonight bringing that pressure and that’s all we ask of him.”
It wasn’t the only good feel-good story of the night, with Jamarra Ugle-Hagan kicking five goals and pointing to his skin in an emotional statement five days after being racially abused during the Dogs’ loss to St Kilda.
Ugle-Hagan had plenty of praise for his fellow Indigenous teammate post-match.
“I’m proud of him. He’s a young Indigenous boy and he’s come in and his energy – that’s the reason why he’s in there,” Ugle-Hagan said of Jones to reporters.
“His pressure, his energy – that’s what we needed in our forward line. He just creates a little spark and we go from there. Without him, the energy is going to be there, but it’s not exciting.
“I mean he’s doing a lap of honour at the end of the game and we’re waiting for him at the gate for like 10 minutes. That’s just him – and that’s what we love about him because he brings that happiness and warmth to our club.”
