NATHAN Jones says he wants to continue as co-captain with Jack Grimes in 2015.
Jones, who as a first-time skipper won his third consecutive club best and fairest award in 2014, endorsed the same partnership with Grimes for next season.
“For sure, if that’s the way (coach) Roosy (Paul Roos) sees it best working – I’ll back that. I think Grimesy is a terrific leader as well and I think we work well in a little duo,” he told Dee TV.
“Both of us acknowledge we’re not complete leaders at the moment and we’ve still got a long way to go. We’ve got a lot to learn – both individually and from a team and leadership perspective – where we [can] continue to get better.
“I think the joint support of each other and being able to carry the load of the club at the moment has sat well on both our shoulders and we’ve both enjoyed it.”
Jones said he relished the opportunity to lead Melbourne and acknowledged his leadership style was different to Grimes – who completed his third season as a club co-captain – yet he was adamant it worked well together.
“I really enjoyed it and Grimesy has been a great support,” he said.
“We’re two very different people, but I think we work well together and he takes care of some stuff that I probably never think of and I’d like to think that I do the same for him.
“I think we really work well and I think we’ve increased expectation on my own performance and then my ability to lead the others has been something that I’ve really had to learn to deal with over the year.”
Jones said being a skipper had given him a greater focus on the team, rather than just his own game.
But in his role as co-captain, Jones arguably had his finest AFL season in 2014. Certainly, statistically he did in one key area, collecting a career-best 610 disposals.
“In the past, I could almost take care of my own backyard and got the job done on game day, but I think now, even in a more elevated position of leadership, I’ve got to drive the group and the standards and get us better,” he said.
“Both Grimesy and I have the same thoughts in where we want to see this club get to and how we’re going to get there and we believe in what we’re doing now. I think that’s been really strong for us.
“It’s been a difficult time to lead when we’re not getting the wins on the board, but I really enjoyed that challenge and hopefully some of the things that the last few years have taught both Grimesy and I are going to hold us in good stead as captains in the future.”