The chalk and cheese Saints giving Aussie Jones hope

Former St Kilda star Austinn ‘Aussie’ Jones is maintaining a glass half-full outlook to life as a Saints fan.

The 226-game Saint knows that things can be tough when you are of the red, white and black persuasion given the club’s time spent in football purgatory.

Jones chooses to be full of positivity before any new season begins, and that is the attitude he has now awaiting season 2027.

But how will the Saints go next year? Jones acknowledges it’s basically a rhetorical question at this stage.

“It is complicated and difficult. I get asked this a little bit - I’ve got no idea,” Jones told Adam White on SEN Summer Mornings.

“I don't really know, it’s just part of barracking for the Saints, supporting the Saints. You just really don't know what's going to happen until the season starts.”

Jones bemoaned St Kilda’s trading of Rowan Marshall to Geelong, but that has not impaired his ability to maintain hope.

“Obviously the Rowan Marshall one was disappointing. He was keen (to leave) last year, we got him for another 12 months,” he said.

“The pairing with Tom De Koning didn't work so that puts a bit of pressure on De Koning. I think in 2025 his start to the year (with Carlton) was All-Australian-like, and then he he did fade probably with the pressure of the change coming to the Saints.

“I think there's upside, but I think there's upside in a lot of teams in our bracket as well so we're going to have to improve out of sight to push for a finals berth or even a wildcard. The AFL tried to help us out with the wildcard. We still couldn't make the top 10.

“So I probably see the glass half-full, but it doesn't take long as the same supporter for that to empty pretty quick after about four or five rounds.”

Two-time All-Australian Jones, who made his name as a dashing and skilful defender, like most Saints fans loves the way Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera goes about his business.

But he’s also a fan of Liam Stocker who is chalk and cheese to the way both Aussie himself played and how 'Nas' does today.

“Obviously Nas (is the player I love watching the most),” the ex-Saint said.

“And I don't compare myself in terms of ability to Nas, but similar type of player with the setup and gets trusted with a bit of disposal off half-back and through the wing.

“So he's a pretty similar player to me, probably about eight grades higher in terms of ability. He's one that every Saint keeps a close eye on.

“And I'm really happy that we re-signed Liam Stocker. Apparently he had to wait right towards the end to get a 12-month extension, but he's the complete opposite to me.

“He's hard, he's tough, uncompromising, and I think he should be in our best side every week. I'm a massive Liam Stocker fan as well.”

Jones is setting himself a challenge, to raise awareness for youth mental health, where he will refrain from speaking for 20 hours while sitting in a 2x2 metre square within a warehouse.

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