Adrian Gallagher on Peter Jones

"I started with the Carlton seniors in 1964, ‘Barass’s’ (Ron Barassi’s) first year was ’65 and Peter started in ’66. Maurie Sankey the Carlton ruckman had died in a car accident, but the wheels were already in motion to get ‘Perc’ across from Tasmania. ‘Perc’ was in awe of ‘Barass’, as was his grandfather who was a staunch Melbourne man and had a bit to do with ‘Perc’s decision to come to Carlton.

"My first impressions of Peter when he came across was “tall”, “lanky”, “Tasmanian” and “should develop into a very good ruckman” - which he certainly did. Initially he was looked upon as a player who could progress in a forward pocket with ‘Nick’ (John Nicholls)

"One of Barass’s rules was that players had to get a job, which was fair enough, and we both found work with my Uncle Murray was the boss of social securities of Australia in Victoria. It was my Uncle Murray who gave Peter his nickname ‘Perc’ after Percy Galea the big-time Sydney gambler of the day, because Peter fancied himself as a bit of an authority on racehorses as a punter. Anyway the nickname was given to him at work and it eventually took over, but I prefer to call him Peter of course..  

"I roved to both Peter and ‘Nick’, but I obviously have to be a little diplomatic in terms of who was best because both might turn on me! (laughs)

"We’ve been friends for a long while. I can remember inviting him to my 21st , but unlike all the other players he didn’t turn up. At training the following Sunday morning he rocked up and I said to him “What happened to you?” and he replied “Oh, I was a bit shy”. But he gained a lot of confidence as time went on.

"Peter was a fantastic ruckman. He really was.  He was a natural ruckman, and Barry Armstrong and Trevor Keogh would agree with me. His finesse belied his stature in height and physique and he was a good goalkicker – a very accurate kick for goal who could hold down a forward pocket while Nick was doing the ruckwork in the early stages.  

"249 games for Carlton is not a bad effort, particularly considering the very serious injuries to his legs and ankles he suffered in a car accident not long after he came over. It took him a couple of years to recover.  

"‘Nick’s move to line-up in the forward pocket and go with Peter as the ruckman in the 1972 Grand Final was a fantastic one, one of the moves that helped land the Premiership. Craig McKellar was one of Richmond strengths – a ruckman who ran straight at the ball – but Peter, with his strength, size and nous, was able to cut McKellar’s run down and make him ineffective at the centre bounces. This gave us a huge advantage and also allowed ‘Nick’ to kick  six in the forward pocket on Ray Boyanich.

"Peter finally went off the ball 20 minutes into the last quarter and with the game won he strode to the pocket scoreboard end to a standing ovation from the Carlton supporters. To this day he reckons he felt like he’d just scored a hundred at the MCG in the Boxing Day Test.

"There was a point where we both realised we were spending too much money on one side of the bar and thought we could actually make money on the other side – which was a pretty wise decision. When we got into hotels we then had to decide which duties we had, so I agreed to look after the books and Peter took care of the barrels because he was an expert with the beer. another of his stipulations was to count the cash and I let him do that for a bit of peace really . . . but I kept an eye on him!

"Peter is certainly worthy of being elevated to Legend status in the Carlton Hall of Fame, because his loyalty to Carlton is unsurpassed. He played 249 games at a goal a game and has been part of four Premierships as a player. He won a Best and Fairest, was vice-captain, coach and as Wes Lofts’ right hand man on committee alongside Barry Armstrong and Peter Kerr, was part of another four Premierships that came to Carlton. If you’re not a Legend after all that I’m not quite sure what makes a Legend.   

Mike Fitzpatrick on Peter Jones

"I first met ‘Perc’ Jones when I came over to Melbourne and was working in the research labs at the PMG, which later became Telstra.

"It was University holidays and I was temporarily renting a place in North Carlton with a mate. I remember getting off a nearby tram one day and this wizard old bloke Leo Brooks approaches me and asks “Are you Mike Fitzpatrick?” I said “I am” and he invited me to come up to Carlton in a few days time. I turned up, met with Bert Deacon and George Harris,  and after a one-hour meeting was invited to go to Peter Poynton’s establishment with Perc, ‘Jezza’ (Alex Jesaulenko) (Brian) Quirk and a couple of others – and that was a very big evening, with Perc and Jezza outdrinking everyone else by a long way.

"I got back to my flat and the walks were moving a little bit (laughs), but that was the beginning of a really strong friendship.

"They (Carlton) really brought me in to replace John Nicholls,  which I was never going to be able to do – and at the time Perc’s place in the team was, to some extent, under some threat. But he was welcoming, he gave me pointers in ruckplay, and after matches (most of which we won) we’d head back to the Dover Hotel that he was running.  That was an enjoyable year until we went out of the finals in straight sets!

"People forget how good a player ‘Perc’ Jones was.  When I came to Carlton in 1975 ‘Perc’ was at the peak of his powers. He was tidying up players like Don Scott with technique and courage. I’d have to say in my time he was one of the best rucks I’ve seen – and certainly the best I had to play against at training! Fast forward to Grand Final day 1979 and I got dragged because Wes (Lofts) said ‘We need you to have something left’. I was pretty pissed off.

"Anyway ‘Perc’ came on, wandered around for about ten or 15 minutes, and he took a mark in the goalsquare and kicked a goal. In the end we won by less than a goal, and while I thought it was an idiotic move it turned out to be a pretty good one (laughs).

"Perc has given everything for Carlton and he’ll tell you about it! I’ve seen him a bit lately, he’s pretty immobile, but his memory hasn’t waned.

"From my point of view, Perc was an excellent supporter and friend. He made what I thought were sacrifices for me early on and we’ve been mates ever since.

"What the club has now done for him is, I  think, terrific."