The Portland and Heywood export described his foster mum Sue Lovett as his hero ahead of his AFL debut against Carlton on Saturday.

“It is an up and down story, from being in foster care and not knowing where I’d be,” Jones said.

“For Sue Lovett her adopting me, it’s hope. 

“I hope there’s people that are looking to adopt and if you’re going to do it, I say do it because you’ll make a change to someone’s life.

“She got me here today.”

Lovett, who fostered Jones at aged 10, said she would be cheering her son on from the GMHBA Stadium grand stand.

“I am so happy for him, he’s worked his little butt off for this,” she said.

“I really am speechless – it’s the first time I have been lost for words.

“The whole family is just so happy for him. Geelong’s been a great club for him.

“They’re so supportive. I couldn’t fault them.”

Lovett said Jones’ debut falling during an indigenous round added extra significance.

Jones, who wants to “put on a show”, said he was called into a room to learn about his impending debut.

“They had one guy who was a payroll guy so I thought I was getting a pay rise, but no,” he said, tongue-in-cheek.

“They said ‘you’ll play this weekend’. It was pretty exciting.

“I didn’t know what to say at that time and said ‘thank you’. I am pretty sure I said ‘where are the cameras?’

“I thought I was getting Punked or something.”

Jones said a stern talking to from Greater Western Victoria talent manager Phil Partington during his time in the TAC Cup system was a turning point.

“I got a spray from Phil Partington who said ‘why are you mucking around?,” he said of his first year in the statewide under 18 system.

“’You’ve got the x-factor. You’ve thrown it away, you’re not going to make it.’

“I was shattered and it made me strong for the second year. It’s when it all came together for me. I had good people around me supporting me.

“It made me notice that they believe in me and they see something, so I knucked down.”

Jones arrived at the Cattery as a raw small forward prospect.

He caught Geelong’s attention after starring in Hampden’s interleague fixture against Ovens and Murray in 2016.

Cats coach Chris Scott said the club was rapt to unveil the goal sneak.

"The way he's been able to make such giant strides in the last four or five years to get to the point where he's playing AFL footy for Geelong, it's a rare story,” he said.

"He was our last pick in the rookie draft, they're as speculative as they come. 

“He's a small forward, he's dangerous with the ball and he's got some energy."