THE curtain has been drawn on an unprecedented 2020 season for the Navy Blues.

Trading Ikon Park for 10 different hotel hubs across Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, it’s been a year we won’t soon forget.

With the final siren having rung on the final game, it’s time to look at those who featured in five or more games for Carlton or made their AFL debuts in 2020.

Here’s the year that was for Carlton’s No.14, Liam Jones.

GAMES?

2020: 17
Career: 142

GOALS?

2020: 0
Career: 84 

KEY AFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets):

Disposals: 135 (7.9) Marks: 72 (4.2) Intercept marks: 47 (2.8) Intercept possessions: 99 (5.8) One percenters: 169 (9.9) Contested marks: 22 (1.3) 

OVERVIEW?

If there were any doubts about Liam Jones’ future in 2020, his season that was ensured that they were emphatically denied.

Jones played every game in season 2020, just over a year after he revealed a serious concussion meant there were conversations about his longevity in the game.

Recording more one percenters than anyone else in the competition, Jones was a key figure down back alongside Jacob Weitering, with the pairing combining well against the opposition’s heavy hitters.

Jones’ stunning footballing rise has been well-documented, with his first season in the leadership group arguably the most consistent of his career.

BEST PERFORMANCE

Despite his team going down by 18 and 22 points respectively, Jones’ best performances came against St Kilda in Round 5 and West Coast in Round 11. 

The margin would’ve been much greater against the Saints if it wasn’t for Jones, who recorded seven intercept marks and five contested marks in a brave defensive showing.

Then, in one of the toughest tests in football, Jones was arguably even better against the Eagles. Recording an astonishing 17 one percenters for the game, Jones was a one-man wall as the Blues took the fight to the highly-fancied hosts over in the West.

In typical Jones fashion, the clash with West Coast also saw a customary hanger in the third term.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

While Didier Drogba may have the most famous header in round ball history, Carlton fans will regard Jones’ header of the Sherrin as just as sweet.

Leading by two points with seconds to go against Essendon, it looked like Carlton hearts would break when a Jacob Townsend set shot was as straight as an arrow.

Standing on the line, the ball bounced off Jones’ head and through for a rushed behind, ensuring a one-point win to the Navy Blues: their first one-point win over the arch-rivals since a fateful day in 1999.

Talk about using your head.

THEY SAID IT

The occasion couldn’t get any more poignant for Jones in Round 13, when Carlton opened Sir Doug Nicholls Round in the Northern Territory: a place which holds a special connection for the Indigenous Blue.

“It’s going to be awesome, it’s a great round to celebrate Indigenous cultures all over Australia and it’s one us Indigenous boys really hold close to our hearts,” Jones said.

“We pencil it in every year and with all the unknown that’s happened this year, it’s special that it’s up in Darwin.”

“I’ve got a lot of family up there, Dad was born and raised so I’ll have a few supporters in the crowd.”

“To kick it off is a real special moment for us, to go out there and to wear this jumper and represent our people is going to be great.”