Les Jones

Recruited from East Fremantle in the WAFL, Les "Tiger" Jones arrived at Melbourne in 1933 with a decorated resume that already included a hat-trick of premierships. He was lured to Victoria not just by the prospect of VFL football, but by the promise of employment with club chairman Joe Blair's oil company. Jones made an immediate impact, winning the club's Best First Year Player award in a season where the Demons otherwise struggled. Primarily operating as a half-forward flanker, he was a versatile utility who could impact the scoreboard, a trait best exemplified in the 1939 Grand Final where he booted three goals to help secure the flag against Collingwood.

Jones remained a key figure at the club until the outbreak of World War II interrupted his career. He briefly departed in 1940 to serve as playing coach for Terang in the country leagues, but was cleared back to Melbourne mid-season to bolster their campaign. His VFL journey effectively concluded in 1941 after just one game, when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force. While he briefly turned out for Brighton in the VFA after the war, Jones is best remembered as a premiership player who successfully crossed the continent to become a fixture in Checker Hughes' famous Melbourne sides.