MELBOURNE will have a six-man leadership group in 2009 after four players were selected to support captain James McDonald and deputy Cameron Bruce.
Brad Green, Brad Miller, Brent Moloney and Brock McLean were the beneficiaries of a process that saw every Melbourne player deliver a 5-4-3-2-1 decision in front of their peers.
The leadership group was then endorsed by chief executive Cameron Schwab and the Melbourne board.
Senior coach Dean Bailey believes the challenges of 2008 – which saw the Demons finish 16th – provided some valuable lessons and he is pleased with the players named to lead the young squad.
"We are really happy with the six-man leadership group that has been selected," he said in a statement released by the club.
"If you go back all the way to when we started pre-season training on October 13, these six individuals were really stand-outs in the way they applied themselves within the club environment and deserve the opportunity to be leaders at this club.
"The leadership group faced quite a few challenges in 2008, and I have no doubt they have learnt from these, and are now better equipped leaders because of this."
Bailey also acknowledged the quality of other players who weren't selected in the group.
"We are also fortunate to have some experienced players who have not currently been named in the leadership group – players like Aaron Davey, Paul Wheatley and Jared Rivers," he said.
"Their knowledge and guidance around the club is invaluable, and although they would have been disappointed to miss out, I’m sure they will continue to set the standard and strive to make the leadership group as it continues to evolve."
Leadership development at Melbourne has been endorsed by Leading Teams and Bailey praised the support of that organisation.
"Whether they're a new recruit, or a 12-year veteran, every individual needs to step up and demonstrate leadership qualities for us to become a successful team," he said.
The Demons named 32-year-old McDonald as the replacement for long-serving skipper David Neitz two weeks ago.
