Family happy Jamaine Jones flying west for second AFL chance

Mum Sue Lovett said she was "pretty stoked" the former Geelong goal sneak had received a second chance at AFL level.

Jones, 21, was announced as an Eagles' Supplemental Selection Period selection on Tuesday night after impressing during a two-week training stint.

Lovett said Jones, who played seven games in three seasons at the Cats, was determined to repay West Coast's faith.

"It's great, it's fantastic and he's happy. He knows it's a second chance and I don't think he's going to let this opportunity pass by," she told The Standard.

"He wants to put his head down and do the work that's needed and appreciate he's been given a second chance and show he can do it.

"He's got our support and we're going to make sure we can make the trek over there at different times.

"The older boys will go over there and me and the kids because we want him to still feel supported.

"He's a real homeboy and that's the only thing - it's a long way. He'll be fine but like everyone they like having family around."

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Lovett said Jones returned to the south-west on Friday, travelled to Geelong on Tuesday and flew back to Perth to start his career as an Eagle on Wednesday.

She said he was ready to stake a claim for a spot in West Coast's forward line.

"My brother watched him play (a West Coast practice match) against Swan Districts when he was over for that two weeks and he said 'he really played well' and he would pick him but he's biased," she said.

"Jamaine just plays the game and if there's 50,000 people watching he wouldn't even notice them because he's got his routine he does.

"Once he's playing footy, nothing else matters. And he knows how hard it is to get in and stay at the elite level. He'll be doing his best."

Lovett credited Jones' manager Winston Rous, from the Phoenix Management Group, for helping him throughout his AFL career.

"He looks after Jamaine's best interests. I think he's a legend," she said.

"I interviewed him at the start (before he was drafted to the Cats) and asked him all the mum questions. Then I left and let my brother do the rest, the football stuff.

"He's really, really looked after him the last three years and he was a big part in making this happen."

Jones, who was drafted via Hampden league club Portland in 2016, has connections at West Coast which will help him settle in at a new club.

He is friends with boom Eagles recruit and All-Australian Tim Kelly who joined the club in the trade period.

They played two seasons together at Geelong.

"He's really got a lot of time for Tim, his wife and the kids," Lovett said.

"Jamaine is the sort of young man who gets on with anyone but he's got a lot of respect for Tim."

West Coast list manager Darren Glass said the club was rapt to sign Jones and fellow small forward prospect Nic Read as SSP selections, labelling them "good long-term players for the football club".

He said Jones would inject more excitement into an Eagles' attack boasting premiership players Josh Kennedy and Liam Ryan and emerging small forward Jarrod Cameron.

"He has some great AFL attributes - speed and power and he loves to chase and tackle," Glass told the Eagles' website.

"We know how important forward pressure is so we think he can contribute strongly this year and beyond so we're looking forward to having Jamaine on the list."

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