Harvey Jones with son Andrew on his shoulders in his last game for the Harden Hawks. Harvey won a premiership with the Hawks in 1981 when they defetated Wagga Kanagroos at Fisher Park, 18-15. Andrew is returning to the Hawks in the 2020 season in their 100th year. Andrew has spent the last 4 seasons sidelined with injury but is looking to make a big contribution this year.
Andrew Jones will be turning 32 this year, however, after 4 years away from Rugby League the Harden stalwart has signed with the maroon and whites and made his return for them in their first trial on Saturday.
Jones has a long and successful history with Harden, starting in the U6s and continuing through before he went away to St Greg’s for the final years of his schooling.
Jones debuted for the Gundagai Tigers in Group 9 as an 18 year old, 14 years ago, before returning to Harden in the South West Brahmans venture, before the Hawks went it alone in 2009. He is a premiership winner for Harden in 2009 and was running around when many of his team mates were in Infants school.
Jones said, “It took me a while to get into it, I was a bit rusty. The shoulder held up pretty good though.”
Coach Luke Brown said, “It was good to have Andrew back. He knows the game. When we needed a boost he came in and took some hard runs for us. He has plenty of experience.”
Jones gave the game away after recurrent injuries robbed him of a number of years of footy. In the final year he played, he continually ‘put his shoulder out’ (dislocated) it.
Andrew said, “It was cleaned out when I was 24. I couldn’t get it back in after falling over at touch football one year. It was probably going out twice a game that final year. By that stage the pain wasn’t too bad because it was going out quite easily. I once put it out reaching for the remote for the Tv on the lounge.”
After having a number of years off and spending time in the gym strengthening his shoulder, Andrew decided to play another year. It is the 100th year for the Hawks and the fact Luke Brown was coaching twisted his arm so to speak.
Andrew said, “I always had it in the back of my mind when I did pull up, that the 100 years wasn’t too far off. When I heard there was a heap of local fellas playing and Browny was coaching, that made it easier. I have a picture of me on my old man’s shoulders when he played this last game and I was only about 6. I thought it would be good for Artie to see me play footy and maybe replicate that photo.”
The photo still proudly sits on the mantle piece at his parents, Harvey and Linda’s house.
The Saturday match was a bruising encounter. Andrew said, “The shoulder is good, the legs are a bit weary. I have a cut on the eye and a black eye, but not too bad.”
“I’m not playing to push a young fella out off a spot, I’m just happy to go and do a job for him and play wherever he wants me to. I’ll fill in where he needs me to. I’ve played nearly all the positions.”
The Hawks have welcomed back Andrew in the 100th year. Known for his speed and agility Andrew will be hard to contain even if he may have lost a yard or 2 since he first debuted in Group 9. Some of his younger opponents will be in for a shock. They say old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance.
