ZAK Jones has a toughness that's impossible to measure – and it has nothing to do with his tattoos, shaved head, or the menacing look of intensity on his face come game day.
You work out what the Sydney Swans defender is made of when he describes the anger he felt at being placed in an ambulance after being knocked out in the NEAFL Grand Final on September 11.
Jones was left motionless for several minutes after a clash with Greater Western Sydney defender Jeremy Finlayson, the 21-year-old concussed so badly that he spent several hours in hospital that night undergoing scans.
The dashing defender was close to best on ground for the Swans until he was flattened, and would have played in the club's AFL semi-final against Adelaide the following week.
"I wasn't too happy about going to hospital, but I didn't really come around until I was already in the ambulance, so there wasn't much I could do," Jones told AFL.com.au.
"I realised what was going on and felt a little bit better.
"It was more scary for my parents than myself, because I can't remember a thing and don't remember it happening.
"It was a nervous few days, but we took all the right precautions. By the next Friday I was running around again and my head felt fine.
"It was disappointing to miss the final, but it all worked out."
Jones was brilliant form in the second half of the year before he was forced to miss the final six games of the home-and-away season with a serious ankle injury, suffered in the Swans' loss to Hawthorn in round 17.
The hard-running backman is a favourite of senior coach John Longmire – he rushed Jones back into the side for this year's season opener against Collingwood despite a limited lead-up because of knee surgery – because of his fearless attack on the footy, his leg speed, and willingness to take the game on from defence.
Jones said having the faith of his coach was always in the back of his mind as he made his way back late in the season, and he never gave up hope of returning to the senior side.
"I just wanted to make an impact, put my hand up (for selection), and control what I could control," he said.
"If you play good footy you get noticed, and that's all I wanted to do.
"I didn't want to think about getting back into the seniors too much, I just wanted to show that I was ready to go if they needed me.
"Knowing John (Longmire) has that belief in me has helped me a lot.
"It just means I can continue to back myself and play my role for the team, and the help of the players around me has been great too."
Jones was picked for last Friday's preliminary final against Geelong at the MCG, and rewarded Longmire with an outstanding return.
The Swans' first selection, and 15th overall, at the 2013 NAB AFL draft had 22 possessions at 77 per cent efficiency, an extraordinary 15 rebound 50s, and 708 metres gained for the night.
Teammate and fellow defender Heath Grundy told AFL.com.au that Jones was a welcome addition against the Cats.
"He looked great, he was one of our best players down back, and gives us such a different look," Grundy said.
"Under pressure a couple of times he was pretty close to getting tackled, and used his leg speed to get out of trouble.
"His ball use has improved a lot in the last 12 months too, and he uses it pretty well by foot.
"To be able to come back into a preliminary final and do what he did, after not playing for so long, was sensational."
