Stevo's Sting - with Mark Stevens

Each week chief AFL reporter Mark Stevens runs his eye over the biggest issues and stories of the AFL week that was.

Here is the latest edition of Stevo's Sting.

SORRY, NATHAN JONES

I have an apology to make to Nathan Jones. Only five years ago, I left him out of Melbourne's best 22 in a Herald Sun pre-season club preview.

The Dees actually appeared to have some depth back then. Jones was a fan favourite, but had his limitations.

He was too often blinkered, streaming to 50 and having a ping (invariably missing), rather than lowering his eyes.

He regularly turned it over through the middle too, a quick kick 50m forward seen as a better option than a bit of subtlety. It was all blue collar. No colour and shade.

He had his admirers, but didn't look a player central to the much hyped re-birth.

I stand by that call now, given the talent listed in the pre-season of 2010.

But it seems ridiculous to have him out of the best team now. I didn't see it coming ... the bloke has lifted the club out of the mire on his broad shoulders. There is a real team aspect to his game now that was lacking in 2010.

The hardness has always been there, but Jones is now having 25-disposal games that are significantly better than the 35-disposal efforts he dished up in the Dean Bailey and Mark Neeld eras. Credit to the man himself, and credit to Paul Roos.

Some players thrive in leadership roles, and the rejuvenation of Jones and a bloke named Bob Murphy out at the kennel are glaring examples.

For what it's worth, here is the side that raised the eyebrows of a few at Demonland, and maybe even the ire of Jones himself.

Stevo's Melbourne best 22, March 2010

Backs: Matthew Warnock, James Frawley, Colin Garland
Joel Macdonald, Jared Rivers, Cameron Bruce
Midfield: Cale Morton, Brent Moloney, Brad Green
Mark Jamar (ruckman), James McDonald, Jack Grimes
Forwards: Colin Sylvia, Brad Miller, Aaron Davey
Matthew Bate, Liam Jurrah, Austin Wonaeamirri
Int: Tom Scully, Jack Trengove, Stefan Martin, Jamie Bennell
Emg: Nathan Jones, Lynden Dunn, Ricky Petterd

The turnover in five years is extraordinary. From that 22, only two players (Garland and Jamar) played against the Tigers on Friday night.

But you can see the depth for yourself; several players moved to other clubs and thrived.

Undoubtedly there is talent on every line. But yep, hindsight is a wonderful thing. Cale Morton over Jonesy hurts.

COLLINGWOOD'S DR BALMEY LAYS IT ON

Collingwood footy boss Neil Balmey is taking it to a new level in his weekly injury reports.

Balmey has always been coy about giving too much away, and hasn't been shy in playing that up.

Now he's invented a new medical term.

Tony Armstrong went down in the VFL clutching his knee. Balmey's diagnosis on the club website: "We think it's ligamentus, if that's a medical term I can get away with."

ROUND FOUR 'HIGHLIGHT'

The man who provided the "highlight" of the round is Archie Salek.

It was Salek captured on camera, accidently sucking on the end of a highlight pen, and responding with a sour face to match the flavour.

We at Seven News attempted to gain an interview with the eccentric Dogs volunteer, but Salek put a media ban on himself.

Club president Peter Gordon found the vision hilarious, and urged Salek to talk to Seven. Salek had no interest in a tell-all.

FRIDAY NIGHT FLOPS

St Kilda and Melbourne were both given the nod for Friday night games this season, ahead of the Western Bulldogs.

Reckon that might change next year.

CLARKO'S SCUFFLE

There were no winners in the Alastair Clarkson incident.

The tool with the camera near the hotel was asking for trouble, and there must be some sympathy for Clarko.

But Clarko let his guard down so close to the safety of the hotel doors.

As I said in Seven's Gameday on Sunday, where the story broke, the camera-wielding tool and Clarko should have both immediately apologised and moved on.

The regret from Clarko came, but 24 hours too late.

Credit to Chris Fagan, one of the most respected footy managers in the business, for getting on the front foot on Sunday morning the moment the video reared its head.

Overall the Hawks dealt with it well. It would have been a massive tick had the tone of Clarko's statement come through in his interviews on Sunday afternoon.