MIDFIELDER Jordie McKenzie says he learned plenty and enjoyed the opportunity to take some of the club’s emerging youngsters under his wing in his first year in Melbourne’s leadership group.

Although McKenzie conceded it had been a frustrating year overall – from a team and personal perspective – he said the opportunity to lead in an official capacity was an aspect he gained plenty from.

He said Jack Viney and Jimmy Toumpas were future leaders of the club and he enjoyed working with emerging Demons such as Dom Barry, who recently represented the Indigenous Australian team against Ireland in the International Rules series.

“They’ve got a great attitude, so they’re great in that they want to soak up as much information as possible,” he told melbournefc.com.au.   

“It’s been a great experience to be [in the leadership group] alongside guys like Grimesy (Jack Grimes) and Col Garland to absorb how they go about it.

“I’ve learned a lot and I’ve developed in that area as well. I’ve really enjoyed the challenge and it definitely hasn’t been easy. Some things from a leadership point of view, I’m still developing, because they don’t come naturally.

“It’s an area I’ll keep trying to develop – whatever that means going forward and as titles go, I’m not too sure.”

McKenzie, who played just 12 matches in 2013, acknowledged that it had been a tough season, until he found form late in the year, when he returned to curb the great Gary Ablett to just 19 touches in round 19.   

“[My season was] interrupted with injuries throughout the year. I missed a fair chunk in the middle [to second half of the season], which was a setback,” he said.

“I came back to the VFL for a few weeks as well, so it was a bit up and down, as far as getting out on the park and my form wavered a bit at times as well.

“I was pleased with the way I finished off my last month, but I can definitely build on it next year.”

McKenzie said it was tough to see teammates, coaches and staff leave the club, but added that it was simply part of the game.

“It’s tough at times when you’ve got relationships with coaches and the staff, but football is a ruthless industry and we’re not getting the results on the weekend, which was us consistently this year,” he said.

“We weren’t getting the job done unfortunately, so stuff like that happens. We’re all accountable – that’s the industry that we’re working in, but on a day to day basis, I know personally, I attack training and every hour at the club. It’s up to the playing group to turn it around and it’s not going to be anyone else.

“It wasn’t just me, but everyone came in with a positive attitude, but no doubt at times it was very frustrating to see how hard everyone’s working, but to only come away with a couple of wins for the year was definitely deflating.”