But as Melbourne's traditional drinking establishments are swept away by the relentless tide of development, the hotel that Jones has run since 1998 has become a place where people can congregate and remember how pubs once were.

'Percy's Bar', as the pub is known, is located on Carlton's famous Lygon Street, just a couple of decent torpedo punts from the Blues' home base, Princes Park.

Walking into the front bar is like returning to the 1950s or '60s. The tiles that cover the bottom half of the walls and the bar are decades old; the carpet is sticky; the tops of the tables and the bar are covered in linoleum; the bar menu has bangers and mash for $10 and rump steak and chips with onion gravy for $15.

"I've been here for 28 or 29 years," Jones explained when AFL.com.au recently paid him a visit. "The hotel has been really good to me. The people make the hotel. The public who come in and spend their hard-earned are the reason the place exists."

Now 67, Jones has lived a colourful life. He grew up in Tasmania, was an outstanding junior footballer, and was lured to Victoria in 1966 by the chance to play in the VFL.

He almost joined Richmond and St Kilda, and he was gutted when he watched the Saints win the '66 flag. But his decision to make Carlton his footballing home, a choice he made after Ron Barassi was appointed coach, proved wise in the long-run.

A 198cm ruckman/forward, Jones played 249 games for the Blues and was part of their 1968, 1970, 1972 and 1979 premierships. Not surprisingly, it is the second of those triumphs, when Carlton came back from 42 points down at half-time to defeat Collingwood, that is his favourite footy memory.

Jones retired after the 1979 season, then found himself embroiled in a civil war at the Blues. By the time the dust settled, club legend Alex Jesaulenko had left for St Kilda and Jones had been appointed coach for 1980.

The issue meant that Jones and Jesaulenko had a strained relationship for a number of years, but these days they are good mates again. 'Jezza' often stirs the pot by talking about how he guided Carlton to the 1979 premiership, then David Parkin led the club to flags in 1981 and '82.

"We had lunch the other day and Alex said, 'If it hadn't been for you we would have won four in a row!'" Jones recalled with a chuckle.

After his brief coaching stint came to an end, Jones ran a number of pubs with teammate Adrian 'Gags' Gallagher, spent some time on the Carlton board, and even ran as a Liberal candidate in a state election using the slogan, "Point Percy at Parliament."

These days, Jones spends most of him time at Percy's Bar. If he's not collecting drinks in his battered Holden Commodore, or entertaining visitors in the dining room, he can be found perched in the corner of the front bar enjoying a pot or two.

Some people consider Percy's Bar to be rundown. But the ageing men that are its regulars believe it is just how pubs should be. Sadly, however, Jones fears that time is running out for his iconic watering hole.

He admits his business is only kept afloat by the generosity of his elderly and very wealthy landlord. And he expects that when the property passes down to his landlord's children, they will want to cash in on what is undoubtedly a very valuable piece of real estate.

If that happens, Percy's Bar is likely to go the way of so many of Melbourne's pubs and be converted into apartments or a restaurant or both. So Jones has committed himself to enjoying things as they are for as long as he can.

"It's a hard game the hotel caper," he said. "They've opened up so many little bars everywhere. But that's life. You just have to try your best."

I love how fast the game is nowadays, and how fit the players are. They move the ball so quickly. I wasn't ever a fast player, so I don't know how a player like I was would keep up with the game now. The skills are great – the way the players are able to kick with both feet and handball with both hands. The tackling and smothering is also very impressive.

The contested marking is not there anymore. That's what I don't like. The bumping has gone out of the game because of the high contact rule, but overall it's all right.

The kicking sideways and backwards. I'd outlaw that.

All the Carlton players are good, but Chris Judd is my favourite. He's been an excellent player since he came over. He's got a lovely wife as well. She'll stand out more now that Megan Gale has gone to Richmond!

I was mostly injury free during my career. I had bad ankles, which were mainly due to a car accident I was in not long after arriving in Melbourne, but other than that I was pretty lucky. Since I reached the age of 60 everything has collapsed. I've had my knees done, my hips done, my raspberry tart done. It's all part of the ageing process. Life goes on.

They need a key forward to stand up. If they had got Cloke, he would've been fantastic. But I think that if someone like Levi Casboult can stand up that will be a real plus.

Twitter: @AFL_AdamMcNicol