Jamaine Jones suspects he's been dreaming of playing AFL football since he was about 10.
It was then that Sue Lovett adopted the Broken Hill-born youngster, who was living in a group home in Mildura, and made him part of her family in Geelong.
Jamaine Jones will fulfill a dream on Saturday night.
Photo: Morgan Hancock
He started playing football for Belmont about then, a stone's throw from Kardinia Park, before he moved with his new family to Heywood in Victoria's western district at the start of year nine.
His football talent was not that obvious to Jones himself but he excited everyone else who watched him play, including Sue, who saw him help Heywood win the 2015 premiership with a best-on-ground performance as a 16-year-old at Hamilton's Melville Oval.
Lovett, says Jones, gave him the second chance he needed to become the first member of his family to finish high school as he combined playing football in Ballarat with his studies at Heywood District Secondary College.
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"She got me here today," Jones said.
"Without her I would not be here."
Here is Geelong, which is where Jones says Lovett will be on Saturday, along with the village that helped raise the child who became a respected young man within his local community, to watch him make his AFL debut.
Jones earned a rookie spot after Cats recruiter Stephen Wells saw him put in a best-on-ground performance playing an interleague game with the Hampden League against the Ovens and Murray League in Warrnambool.
Wells had gone to watch Cedric Cox (now with the Brisbane Lions) and returned with as many notes about a left-footer with the initials JJ as he did about the exciting defender with the initials CC.
By that stage Jones was playing for the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup, preferring, because of the established network he had in Portland and Heywood, to make the three-hour round trip to train and play than board at St Pat's College.
In the first year he did that journey he only played one game with the Rebels but he kept doing the hard yards, determined to push past the easiest option available, often getting home at midnight.
Jones remembers Rebels stalwart Phil Partington giving him a bake at one stage to ensure he stopped mucking around too much and made the most of his talent.
However Partington says it didn't take much to kick Jones into gear, particularly once he got used to filling out his "smartabase," which lets clubs know how players are feeling.
"When he had to take things seriously he took things seriously," Partington said.
Those who know him suspect his willingness to become involved in anything that was on offer from sport to family life to cultural activities helped him make his way.
Carrying a resolve to do whatever he did to the best of his ability he was, even at his most social, his own man – disciplined and determined.
His coach Chris Scott can only admire the 19-year-old and can't wait to see what he can offer on the big stage.
"We were confident that he had the desire and the application to do the work but also he had history of overcoming some adversity," Scott said.
"[He's] such a bubbly and enthusiastic young footballer that you almost forget that he has had to push through some difficult times."
That cheek was evident when he described the moment he was told he had been selected.
"I asked, 'where are the cameras'. I thought I was getting 'Punk'd," Jones said.
It's true.
Jones, a small forward with a dangerous left foot, will play for Geelong against Carlton on Saturday night, a dream fulfilled.
Peter Ryan joined The Age in 2017 having covered AFL as a senior reporter with AFL Media.
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