RELIEVED of the captaincy this year, Jack Trengove has now set his sights on cementing a midfield position and making a genuine impact in 2014.

Trengove, who stepped down from the co-captaincy role at the end of the 2013 season – after being appointed the youngest VFL/AFL captain in 2012 – said he was determined to step-up in the engine room this year.

“That’s where I love playing my footy the most and hopefully I can get a spot in the midfield and hold it down for the whole season,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“But being able to play a number of different positions is a positive, particularly going forward with the new interchange rule. You’re going to be spending more time on the ground and you can’t spend the whole time in the midfield, because it’s pretty taxing on the body.

“Where I’ve been training and what the coaches have been saying to me this pre-season has been towards a midfield role, with the option of being able to go back or forward at different times.”

Trengove said it had been the best pre-season of his career so far – a far cry from last year when a foot stress fracture ruined his preparation leading into the 2013 season.

“I’m feeling fitter and stronger than I ever have before, so hopefully that flows through to the season,” he said.

“I couldn’t go in with much more confidence I don’t think, so I’m really looking forward to what’s in store for the next month or so and then go we’ll from there.”

Trengove said upon reflection that it was “hard not coming off much of a pre-season” last year due to his injury.

“It makes a difference having a pre-season – not only from the fitness side of things, but from a confidence point of view. You notice that the more pre-seasons you get under your belt,” he said.

“There are plenty of examples each season of players having limited pre-seasons and then still having successful individual seasons.”

Trengove said his first pre-season under coach Paul Roos had been refreshing.

“I’ve really enjoyed it so far. Roosy and the new coaching group have been great for us. Everyone’s looking fit and ready to go and I’m excited to start playing now,” he said.

“It’s been a different pre-season with the new coaching group. Every group has their own theories and ways of doing things, but to me it’s been good to just get some continuity in my training.

“There’s been no issue with the body this time around, which has been fantastic.”