Liam Jones Biography

Liam Jones may not play again in the 2023 home and away season after surgeons discovered his forearm injury was worse than first feared.

The 32-year-old underwent surgery to repair the radius he fractured when North Melbourne youngster Paul Curtis accidentally kicked his arm while attempting to soccer the ball off the ground at Marvel Stadium.

Eight years after leaving the Bulldogs, Liam Jones returns to the club as an unrestricted free agent.

Liam Jones will return to his former club, the Western Bulldogs.

Jones was deemed by the AFL to classify as an unrestricted free agent this off-season after quitting Carlton due to his COVID-19 vaccination stance ahead of this season.

Liam Jones announces his retirement from AFL football, citing personal reasons. However, it is understood Jones' decision to retire is related to the vaccination policy implemented by the AFL in preparation for the 2022 season.

"I wish to announce my retirement from AFL football effective immediately. I want to take this opportunity to thank all who have supported me throughout my journey, both personally and professionally. I love the game and I'll miss my teammates," Jones said.

"I hope that people respect my decision and privacy – neither myself or my management team will be making any further comment on the matter."

Just a year after winning the NAB AFL Rising Star award, teenage sensation Sam Walsh has joined Carlton's leadership group.

Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty have been named co-captains for the second straight year, flanked by veterans Marc Murphy and Ed Curnow.

Another former No.1 draft pick, Jacob Weitering, and veteran defender Liam Jones join Walsh as the three new additions to the seven-man group.

"This is a significant step in the growth of our football club with our emerging generation of talent now ready to step into senior leadership positions," Docherty said.

"Weiters, Jonesy and Walshy are exceptional leaders in everything they do, whether it be on the training track, during games and living the values of our football club ? that is why they have earned their place in the leadership group.

"All three of them are born for the role, are quality Carlton people and we are excited to see them continue to grow as footballers and as individuals."

Liam Jones recounts the sickening clash of heads with North Melbourne's Cam Zurhaar that threatened his career.

Jones was knocked out cold, with medics carefully helping the 199cm backman from the field after an extended period where the Marvel Stadium crowd fell under a hushed silence.

He would miss the next seven weeks, undergoing a series of vigorous scans and tests where doctors delivered significant doubt Jones would ever be able to play football again.

"It was worrying. I didn't feel too bad for a day or two afterwards, but all of the symptoms started hitting me - the dizziness, shocking memory, not being able to do anything," Jones said.

"I had a lot of scans and the club and the AFL handled it really well in terms of my testing and all of the protocols I had to go through and catching up with specialists.

"I flew my dad down from Darwin to catch up with the specialist and there was a bit of concern there, but, thankfully, I got the opportunity to come back and play again.

"I've been symptom-free ever since and there's been no reoccurrence of it. I'm really thankful because it was a worrying time, but I got through it. It made me miss football, but it made me want to play it even more and be grateful for it."

Liam Jones will miss the Blues' clash with West Coast this week following the passing of his mother.

Liam Jones signs three-year contract extension with Carlton to remain at the club until the end of 2022.

"My time here at Carlton has been quite the journey, going from a forward to a defender: the transition certainly had its challenges, but I’ve loved every minute of the journey," Jones said.

"The club has shown great belief in me since I walked through the doors and I’m looking forward to working hard every day to help this group achieve success over the next three seasons."

Liam Jones has been stretchered off the ground after a sickening collision with North Melbourne's Cameron Zurhaar.

Jones took a courageous mark deep in the forward pocket during the third term on Sunday, but collided with Zurhaar's head and fell to the ground forcefully.

The defender did not move after the incident and was taken off the ground on a stretcher, while Zurhaar was left with blood streaming down his face.

Jones will be taken to hospital for scans and further assessment.

Liam Jones will undergo surgery after sustaining a minor fracture to his left hand at training.

Liam Jones is ruled out for the rest of the 2018 after suffering medial ligament damage from a marking contest in the second term of the Blues' 72-point loss to Hawthorn.

Liam Jones says his transformation into a key defender in 2017 was fueled by sheer desperation to get to each contest.

"My mindset was just to go 100 per cent at everything ... just to be as desperate as I could be and just to do everything that I could to save a score," Jones said.

Jones believes he still has plenty of room for improvement as a defender in 2018.

"If I work a little bit smarter and have smarter positioning, I'm not having to bust my boiler and absolutely go flat out for things. Smarter positioning will help me defend better, I reckon," he said.

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton says Liam Jones' emergence as a key defender has been a big positive for the club in 2017.

"We've found a key defender that can match it with the really big forwards," Bolton said.

"Often you've got to go and recruit that (type of player) or you've got to grow it from a young age and it takes time. But we've unearthed one, that's a win."

Liam Jones signs a new two year deal with Carlton that will keep him at the club until the end of 2019.

"The move into the back six has obviously reinvigorated me and I'm really grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity to go around again for the next couple of years," Jones said.

"I know I have a long way to go with my development and I am continuing to learn the defensive craft, but I am excited to be continuing on for the next couple of years with the club I love, and I'm looking forward to seeing what this young group can achieve in the coming years."

After failing to make an impact as a forward in two seasons for Carlton, Liam Jones has reinvented himself as a defender.

Jones made a magnificent return to AFL level in Carlton's upset win against Greater Western Sydney, shutting down key forward Jon Patton and showing all the traits of an accomplished backman.

"Some of his aerial contests to kill the ball and get a big fist on it, that's a great step for him and us as a footy club," Carlton coach Brendon Bolton said after the one-point win at Etihad Stadium.

"That change of role back at the Northern Blues has now shown some little signs in his first game back at AFL.

"(Coach) Josh Fraser and his crew at the Northern Blues, and Dale Amos, who's our defensive coach, have put a lot of time and effort in, but more importantly, 'Jonesy' himself."

Liam Jones became a Blue with just five minutes remaining in the 2014 NAB AFL Trade Period. He was traded for the Blues' draft selection of No.46.

Liam Jones remains set on joining Carlton despite reports the Blues are making Giants youngster Kristian Jaksch their No. 1 key-position target.

"We're fully focused on getting to the Blues. That's the club we've had dialogue with and where we want to get to," Jones' manager, Shane Casley of Elite Sports Properties, said.

"So I think you'll find that deal will get done in due course ... at the end of the day, Liam has left the Bulldogs and there's no turning back."

Out-of-contract Liam Jones tells the Bulldogs he wants a trade to Carlton.

"It's fair to say that Liam's been a bit frustrated this year with the lack of opportunities in the last couple of months," Jones' manager Shane Casley said.

"At the end of the day, like most guys, he just wants to play senior AFL football."

Bulldogs midfielder Daniel Cross says teammate Liam Jones is set to have a big impact in 2013.

"In our match simulation he's really dominating our backs at times," Cross told Crocmedia's Sportsday.

"He doesn't win the time trials, but he's such a powerful speed freak. He loves a contest, he's great overhead.

"Without putting a lot of pressure on him, he's really one we need to step up and go to that next level."

Bulldogs forward Liam Jones says Barry Hall helped him develop into a player ready for the rigours of AFL football.

"I leaned to train with real intensity and to just work hard," Jones said.

"If you can just work 100 per cent, things will go your way. He was such an amazing player for a long period of time."

Bulldogs forward Liam Jones says Tom Hawkins' form turnaround in2012 is his inspiration.

"That's a pretty good thing for a young forward like me, seeing how hard he's had to work and how long it's taken him," he said.

"The player he's turned out to be now keeps me optimistic about what things could turn out like for me."

Bulldogs ruckman Will Minson says Liam Jones shapes as the most likely successor to Barry Hall in the forward line.

"He's been doing some brilliant things … and we're looking forward to seeing him perform at the elite level again," Minson said.

"He played some great games last year and he'll be better for having another pre-season under his belt, and (he is) fitter and stronger. I think he'll be a really exciting player for us this year."

Western Bulldogs youngsters Luke Dahlhaus, Matthew Panos, Liam Jones, Christian Howard, Dylan Addison and Lukas Markovic all sign contract extensions with the club.

"This is an extremely positive outcome for our club and completes the re-signings of our remaining players, including the upgrade of two emerging talents off the rookie list," Bulldogs general manager of football James Fantasia said.

Western Bulldogs' Liam Jones has been nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star in the last round of 2011, capping off a consistent season where he has played his role as retiring teammate Barry Hall's partner up forward.

"It's obviously been a pretty hard year for the club but from an individual perspective, it's been good to keep my spot," Jones said.

"It was good to take a couple of marks this year; being alongside 'Baz' down there I just had to do something. He had all the leading and stuff down pat, so I just had to pitch in with a few big marks."

Liam Jones makes his AFL debut for the Western Bulldogs at Docklands Stadium with 10 disposals (5 kicks and 5 handballs), 5 marks, a tackle and a goal in a 71-point win over North Melbourne.