SOME might have suspected Brad Green would be browned off.

Only 11 days earlier new coach Mark Neeld had - in his usual black and white fashion - told Green he was no longer Melbourne captain.

At the time everyone had wondered how the 241-game veteran would be feeling at losing the title after just one season with it next to his name.

He says he was not angry, nor disappointed, although he would have loved to retain the job.

"I'm the type of person that gets over things really quickly," Green said.

But he was slightly confused immediately after the news was broken.

While no words had been wasted, Green realised on the way home a grey area remained unresolved.

He went through the conversation with the coach in his mind, then asked himself the question: "Did he actually tell me that I was not in the leadership group?" said Green.

Soon that reality hit home too.

Melbourne's eight-man leadership group did not include Green.

The extent of the change gave him cause to pause. Green was just one of four members (with Brent Moloney, Jared Rivers and Aaron Davey) who were part of the 2011 leadership group no longer in an official leadership position in 2012.

When he thought about that more he realised the scope of the decision was consistent with the rationale behind the change. From then on it was a change he could get behind.

"I see their approach and see what direction they're going in and I fully support their decision," said Green.

From Green's perspective the decision was about a new outlook with a young, fresh set of heads at the cabinet table. As a result of the reshuffle, Green and his experienced teammates had been sent to the backbench.

From there they would be expected to contribute in a way that would benefit the team: playing at their best and being a guiding hand when required.

Such a task might challenge some.

But Green is OK with that role.

"I still see myself as a leader around here. I still see myself as one of the senior players that is going to lead these boys because they are a young group and they're going to need help and I'm there to help them and that won't change," said Green.

"I have not got the title of being in the leadership group or captain but I still feel that I want to help these guys because they are going to be young and inexperienced…I am here to support them."

It helps that he has such respect for the new co-captains, Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove.

He says the titles won't affect the duo although he suspects at various stages they will inevitably feel the full weight of the responsibility.

However to this point, officially 10 days into their jobs, he's seen no sign of either player changing their tone, body language or behaviour. Green hopes they don't. It's a trap he suspects he may have fallen into in 2011.

"Probably sometimes I felt that you have to do more, where you actually don't," he said.

That's another reason why he is happy to be part of the new group's support network.

Green's response is critical. If he can perform consistently at an elite level, as he is capable, he suddenly becomes the experienced hand adding value on the field rather than someone feeling the need to lead.

That makes Melbourne a more dangerous proposition. It might be an illusion, but from the outside the list will suddenly seem more balanced and the competition for spots real. Instead of the perception being that the club had a leadership void there will be leaders everywhere.

Green's enthused about his likely on-field role too and appreciates the direct, positive approach of the coach in relation to what he can contribute. The thought of being a versatile forward, moving through the wing and occasionally playing deep has Green excited: "That is going to be good for my footy as I love playing all over the shop."

He also loves playing for Melbourne, with or without an official title. That much became clear yesterday as he answered every query without rancour. He was fresh, alive, a different person to the one who took the responsibility of fronting the media immediately after Melbourne's thrashing at the hands of Geelong in July last year, a game that precipitated much change.

"It's only going to affect my football if I sit around and be in the doldrums all the time," he said. "I want to help these boys win games of footy and get back to play finals footy, that's what I want."

The views in this article are those of the AFL and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
 
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