Nathan Jones has pledged to lead Melbourne back from the footballing wilderness after being promoted to co-captaincy of the AFL club alongside Jack Grimes in 2014.
In appointing Jones, Melbourne have turned to one of the few players to have performed with distinction during two of the worst seasons in their long history.
Jones, 26, was the best and fairest winner in 2012 and 2013 and widely considered to be the leading choice for the role after Jack Trengove stepped down at the conclusion last season.
The midfield hardman said he was honoured by the appointment and wanted to repay the faith.
“The journey that I’ve had so far at this footy club hasn’t had too much on-field success,” he said on Wednesday.
“I feel a great privilege to hold the position and be in charge of leading the club into a successful period.
“There’s some real light at the end of the tunnel now – the footy club is really sorting itself out.”
New coach Paul Roos said the club planned to have a practice game to better assess candidates but instead Jones and Grimes emerged as obvious choices.
“Both from a coaching point of view and the players, there were two stand-outs,” he said.
Grimes’ advice to his new counterpart was simple: don’t go changing.
“The first thing I did say to him was to not change. He’s got to the position because of what he’s doing already,” he said.
“I probably fell into that trap when I was announced – trying to be what I thought a captain should be.”
Alongside Trengove, who at 20 was the youngest captain in VFL/AFL history, Grimes’ captaincy has coincided with two of the club’s toughest seasons, where the Demons have won just six times in two years.
Grimes, who missed several games with injury last year, said he saw himself as a much better captain now than when he started in the role two years ago.
Trengove removed himself from captaincy contention to focus on his own form but retained a spot in the six-man leadership group.
“If you’re voted in the leadership group you should be in the group,” Roos said.
“He probably wasn’t ready three years ago but he’s probably ready now.”
The six-man leadership group was completed by James Frawley, Colin Garland and Mitch Clark.
One of Jones’ juggling acts in 2014 will be combining his passion for surfing with his football – and a child expected with his partner in early July.
Revealing he had already scoured the fixture for a potential clash, Jones nervously said he hoped the birth would take priority over the round 16 clash with Fremantle in Darwin.