After struggling to put the clamps on Gold Coast’s skipper on Sunday, Melbourne’s co-captain Nathan Jones says he can no longer argue with Gary Ablett’s status as the best player in the modern game. 

The match-winning midfielder was instrumental in the GC SUNS’ uninspiring eight-point win over the Demons, picking up 11 of his 32 touches in a match-defining second term to stretch his team’s lead to 20 points at the long break.

From there on in, Ablett toyed with the Demons’ midfield group, going on to record eight clearances, four inside-50s and two crucial goals, with his second all but putting the match to bed as he iced a set shot from 45 metres out with eight minutes remaining. 

Speaking in the Demons’ change rooms after the match, Jones lavished praise on his round 5 opponent’s unblemished performance. 

“I got released off him (Ablett) in the second half, because we weren’t winning enough ball around the stoppages. I just tried to play my role today (Sunday) and no wonder Gaz is the best player in the comp, really,” Jones told Dee TV.  

“To see him close up was a great learning for me and Jordie [McKenzie], who ended up going onto him. In the end, we didn’t have 22 blokes play their role and in the end, we didn’t test him (Ablett) enough with the decisions we made.”

The Demons’ reigning best & fairest winner conceded Gold Coast’s wayward goal-kicking allowed Melbourne to stay competitive for most of the match.

“Gold Coast could’ve really put us to the sword early, if they had have kicked straight,” he said.

“We could’ve been closer or maybe in front if we had have scored.

“Really, if you looked at the game as a whole, we didn’t make enough clear decisions on the day to win the game and that’s what we’ve got to get back to.”