CO-CAPTAIN Jack Trengove will lead Melbourne for the first time when the Demons take on Hawthorn in the third NAB Cup round at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

 

Trengove has not played this season, due to a shin complaint.

 

Brent Moloney, Mitch Clark, Jordie McKenzie, Jared Rivers and Clint Bartram have also returned.

 

Trengove will be the fourth Demon to lead the side in as many matches.

Football manager Josh Mahoney said Trengove had completed the required training to play his first match for 2012.

“Jack has trained strongly this week and will now get his first opportunity to lead the Melbourne Football Club,” he said.

Leadership group member James Frawley captained Melbourne in its opening NAB Cup clash against Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium, as fellow co-captain Jack Grimes was rested.

 

In Melbourne’s second match against Brisbane Lions that night, Grimes returned to skipper the team.

 

But with Grimes (shoulder) sidelined last round against Collingwood, leadership group member Nathan Jones stepped up in the absence of both co-captains.

 

The tenacious McKenzie will play his first match for the season, after battling an achilles inury.

 

Moloney, Clark, Rivers and Bartram were rested last round.

 

This week, Melbourne has rested its most experienced player Brad Green and defender Joel Macdonald.

 

Youngsters Jordan Gysberts and Sam Blease, who played last round, will play for Casey in the VFL.