ZAK JONES could scarcely have made a better return to the Sydney Swans' team in the preliminary final win over Geelong, but the defender knows he could lose his spot if Jarrad McVeigh and Callum Mills prove their fitness for the Grand Final.
Jones was outstanding in defence in the Swans' 37-point win over Geelong at the MCG on Friday night, racking up 22 possessions and a game-high 15 rebound 50s.
• Match centre: full coverage, stats and highlights
It was his first senior game since suffering a syndesmosis injury in his left ankle against Hawthorn in round 17, with his call-up coming after Swans co-captain McVeigh sustained a calf strain in last Saturday night's semi-final win over Adelaide.
Jones told AFL.com.au the victory had been sweet, but admitted it was hard not to think about whether he will make the Swans' Grand Final team.
• The moment: Buddy blasts off and the Cats go cold
"I guess you enjoy the moment, but you do always think about those things," Jones said.
"They're always in the back of your mind, but when you're playing you've got to play with good intensity and hopefully that holds you in good stead.
"Hopefully I did that."
Swans coach John Longmire certainly thought he did.
"He was playing really well for us before he went out during the year and had that ankle injury. We were keen to get him back in as soon as we could," Longmire said of Jones in his post-match press conference.
"He gives us some real zip and some hardness and some real energy. He has speed across the ground and he's a good kick, so he was pretty good (against the Cats)."
Before his ankle injury, Jones had missed just two senior games in his third AFL season and looked to have cemented himself in the Swans' best 22.
• Every Swan rated: Rohan completes remarkable finals comeback
He returned during the first week of the AFL finals in the NEAFL Grand Final, but his bid for a senior recall suffered a blow when he was concussed after a nasty head knock.
He sat out the following week but finally had some good luck, albeit somewhat bittersweet, when McVeigh's injury opened the selection door for him.
Jones said his road back into the senior team had been tough, but said Friday night's win had made it worthwhile.
"It was surreal. Everything was going so fast and we just jumped them at the start," Jones said.
"We kept the pressure on early and kept the pressure on for the four quarters, which was a good thing.
"I was trying to just keep calm and not think about it and just take it as another game.
"Once you're out there and the crowd's yelling it's completely different to what you expect. It all hits you at once. But once you get hit or cleaned up then you're all sweet."
• Five things we learned from the preliminary final
