MELBOURNE has announced a new-look eight-man leadership group, with outstanding youngsters Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove named co-captains.  

Joining Grimes and Trengove in the revamped squad are Clint Bartram, Mitch Clark, James Frawley, Colin Garland, Mark Jamar and Nathan Jones.

The 22-year-old Grimes has played 32 matches and will be one of the least experienced captains in recent history - in terms of games played. And Trengove will enter the record books as the youngest ever full-time VFL/AFL captain. He will be 20 years, 211 days when he plays in round one.

When Trengove co-leads Melbourne against Brisbane Lions on March 31, he will surpass North Melbourne great David Dench as the youngest VFL/AFL captain.

Dench captained the Roos at 20 years, 221 days in 1972. Legend and triple Brownlow Medallist Hayden Bunton is the only other player to have captained a VFL/AFL club at the age of 20.

Modern greats Michael Voss and Wayne Carey were also instilled as captains at 21. (It must be noted, however, that Bernie Quinlan was 20 years, nine days when he led Footscray for one match in round 18, 1971.)

Grimes and Trengove will be the 42nd and 43rd person respectively to captain Melbourne, since Ned Sutton first led the club in 1897.

Interestingly, Trengove, who has played 37 games, will enter the 2012 season with five more matches to his name than Grimes, who has battled injuries in four seasons.

This year’s squad is significantly different from the 2011 Brad Green-led leadership group, which was inducted last January.

Just two players from last year’s six-man leadership group remain: Grimes and Jones.

Green, who captained Melbourne and Australia in the 2011 International Rules Series, has not been retained in the leadership group.

His 2011 co-vice-captains Aaron Davey, Brent Moloney and Jared Rivers have also been left out of the group.

But for Grimes and Trengove, their elevation to co-captaincy so soon in their career is not a massive surprise, considering they were touted future skippers entering the AFL.

Grimes joined Melbourne when he was selected at No.14 in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft.

He arrived with leadership potential stamped all over him, having captained Northern Knights in the TAC Cup.

In 2007, Grimes averaged 28 disposals for the Knights. The defender/midfielder also received All-Australian honours after representing Vic Metro in the NAB AFL under-18 championships. He also achieved a 15.1 beep test at the AIS-AFL Academy.

In his first season at Melbourne, Grimes had an interrupted pre-season with a back injury. He missed more than half of the season, but managed to debut against Richmond in the final round of 2008.

In 2009, a back injury again halted the start of his season, before he returned in round seven.

He quickly showed his talent with some strong performances in defence, before a hip injury forced him to miss the last five matches of the season.

In 2010, he featured in the opening 14 rounds, before a hamstring ended his season.
A navicular stress fracture sustained in round seven ended his 2011 season, after just six matches. 

Despite these setbacks, his leadership capabilities have never been in question. Last year, he was Melbourne’s youngest leader of its then six-man leadership group. 
For Trengove, his rise is quite remarkable.

In just his second AFL season last year, he finished fifth in Melbourne’s best and fairest. He also represented Australia in the 2011 International Rules series.

Trengove was originally selected at No.2 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft - although many believed it was a flip of the coin between him and former teammate Tom Scully for the No.1 mantle.

He came to Melbourne having won South Australia’s MVP in the NAB AFL under-18 championships, after averaging 23 disposals. Trengove was also named All-Australian and represented Sturt with distinction in the SANFL seniors.

The midfielder then made his AFL debut in round one, 2010 and played 18 matches. He also received a NAB AFL Rising Star nominee. Last year, he made another 19 appearances.

But in just two seasons, Trengove has displayed outstanding characteristics, which has catapulted him into the role.  

For leadership group member Bartram it is a fine reward, considering he has had to work tirelessly to forge a determined and respected AFL career. The tenacious defender/midfielder is set to pass the 100-game milestone in 2012.

Clark’s inclusion highlights the impact the boom recruit has had at the club, despite the fact he has yet to play a match for Melbourne. His arrival from Brisbane Lions was seen by some as Melbourne’s biggest recruiting coup since Brownlow Medallists Peter Moore and Kelvin Templeton arrived in 1983. 

The promotion of Frawley is well deserved, having established himself as arguably Melbourne’s most important player. The key defender was named All-Australian in 2010 and has claimed two top three placings in the best and fairest in 2010-11.

Garland has made significant strides in his leadership after earning the nickname ‘Humphrey’ soon after he was drafted in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft. He is now one of the more considered and composed players at the club. 

Jamar’s appointment comes after taking his game to another level in 2010, when he was named All-Australian. He has since become one of the premier ruckmen in the game.

And Jones’ durability - he has missed just four matches since he debuted in round 17, 2006 - and retention in the leadership group is testament to his game. 

2012 Leadership Group
Jack Grimes (co-captain)
Jack Trengove (co-captain)
Clint Bartram
Mitch Clark
James Frawley
Colin Garland
Mark Jamar
Nathan Jones