Nathan Jones dreams of holding aloft the AFL premiership cup and he says he wouldn’t have signed a long-term deal with Melbourne if he didn’t believe the Demons were capable of achieving that lofty goal.

Jones, 26, signed a contract extension that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2019 season and while he admits he’s not sure if the Demons can taste premiership success in that timeframe, he’s adamant they’re heading in the right direction.

“I dream of it, I’m sure every player does, but there’s a long road ahead and we’ve got to take some really significant steps in the interim,” Jones said from AAMI Park on Thursday.

“Whether that happens or not I’m not sure, but at least I know the club will eventually get back to where it should be.”

Jones has endured a wretched run since Melbourne selected him 12th overall at the 2005 national draft, with the club reaching the finals just once and picking up three wooden spoons since he made his debut.

The Demons ended last season with a morale-sapping 10-game losing streak on their way to 17th spot on the ladder, but the skipper is bullish about his team’s fortunes next year.

“Every team is aiming for finals and I honestly don’t think that’s too far out of reach for us,” he said.

“We’ve just got to see how it all unfolds. At this stage everyone is training harder, everyone’s faster, fitter and stronger, but the real test will be when games start.”

While good mate James Frawley left the club for Hawthorn in search of premiership success, Jones is firm in his belief that he’s made the best decision for himself, his family and the club.

“I bleed for the footy club, I love the place, and I’m just glad I’m going to see out my career here,” he said.

“It never crossed my mind to leave – it was just a matter of getting the negotiations done.

“I love the place and I’m looking forward to having some success here.

“I’m really confident in the direction the club is going now and I think it would be silly to jump ship.”

Jones will turn 31 in the final year of his new deal and he’s hopeful the remarkable durability he’s shown during his 179-game career continues, but agrees it was a big show of loyalty by the club to sign him for that long.