You only need to watch five minutes of training to understand why.
He hunts the football, he doesn’t shirk at a contest and he gives everything he’s got in every session.
Since his arrival in early December, the 183cm and 75kg teenager has thrown himself into every session and has not been afraid to take on bigger opponents on the track.
His competitiveness, which he wears like a badge of honour, is what Jones thrives on.
“I love the intensity of every training session and the challenges the Swans are bringing me,” Jones told SwansTV.
“Sometimes I might be a little bit more physical than I should be, but it’s alright because I love it.
“The kind of player I want to be perceived as is just a hard, competitive player, which is what I want to bring to Sydney.”
Jones’ competitive spirit has already forced the Swans’ coaching staff to take notice in his first few months at the club.
The club’s Development Manager Josh Francou said Jones’ determination and application at his new club has made the former Dandenong Stingray an exciting prospect for the Swans.
“He’s a goer – we love him,” Francou said.
“Zak is a fantastic person to work with.
“He’s eager to learn, he’s always watching vision and he’s always seeking feedback from the coaches.
“He’s one of those sorts of first-year recruits who could potentially make an impact this year.”
Jones’ explosive start at the Swans has also caught the attention of some of the club’s biggest names including dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes.
“It’s nice to see young Zak Jones running around,” Goodes said.
“It seems like he knows what he’s doing and he’s a very tough competitor.”
Be there when Zak Jones and the rest of the Sydney Swans draftees receive their first red and white guernsey at the 2014 Guernsey Presentation & Hall of Fame Induction Dinner, presented by Volkswagen.
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Co-captain Kieren Jack also shares Goodes’ high hopes for the 18-year-old following his strong pre-season form.
“I’ve taken quite a liking to Zak Jones,” Jack said.
“He’s an aggressive kid, he’s very competitive and he’s shown some really good signs.”
If Zak does manage to make an impact in 2014, he won’t be the first of the Jones family to burst out of the blocks in their first-year at an AFL club.
Zak’s older brother Nathan, who was taken at pick 12 by the Melbourne Football Club in 2005, played eight games in his first year at the Demons and has since notched up 157 AFL games.
While the younger Jones shares the competitive spirit and physical game style of his brother, Zak said he was determined to make his own mark in the AFL system.
“A fair few people compare me to him, but I want to be a completely different player to him,” he said.
“I guess Nathan playing gave me a huge insight into the AFL before I was capable of getting in, but I want people to see us as two different players.
“People say that I’m probably a bit quicker, but Nathan has the endurance where he can run for longer.
“I’m obviously really proud of what he’s achieved and his self-success, but I want to be my own player.”
Zak is already taking a different course to his older brother and is embracing his move from Melbourne to the Harbour City.
Jones said he was enjoying the beach lifestyle in Sydney and had already spent plenty of time catching waves at Maroubra beach alongside team mate, Luke Parker.
“Sydney is unbelievable and was probably the best place for me to come,” he said.
“I’ve got the hot weather and I’ve got the beaches to surf, so I’m loving it.
“Luke Parker comes down to the beaches with me and he’s been getting around me a fair bit and has helped me settle in.”
With less than a month remaining until the Swans’ first pre-season match, Jones said endurance would be his main focus as well as learning the club’s game plan.
Jones also admitted that he’s still got a little way to go in building his body for AFL football.
“I walked in and I saw big Kurt Tippett and I was like ‘geez where have I come to?’” he said.
“It’s a massive change around from the smaller bodies at TAC Cup.
“Everyone is just really big around me, so I’m just a twig (in comparison).”
