Jack Trengove says he's unfazed if he loses the captaincy
JACK Trengove, the youngest captain in AFL history, says he would not mind if he was relieved of the role in 2014 after just two years as Melbourne co-captain.
Trengove was a surprise appointment as co-captain of the Demons at the start of 2012, taking on the job at the age of 20 years and 217 days.
However the No.2 selection in the 2009 National Draft struggled for form during his time as skipper and new coach Paul Roos said he has an open mind as to who will be captain in 2014.
"Going forward, if [Roos] said 'we'd rather you had a minor role and not the captaincy', then I'm all for it. I seriously don't mind," Trengove told melbournefc.com.au.
"It's a huge privilege and honour to be the co-captain of the Melbourne Football Club, but I'm a team oriented person and whatever's best for the club, I'm happy to go with."
On the day he was appointed as Melbourne coach Roos said his main focus was making Trengove and his co-captain Jack Grimes the best players they could become.
Grimes told AFL.com.au earlier this month he would like to retain the role but he would be happy with whatever decision the new coach made.
Trengove finished fifth in the 2011 best and fairest and had played just 37 games in two years when new coach Mark Neeld appointed him captain after a players' vote.
He finished eighth in the best and fairest in the past two seasons but his form improved towards the end of the season. He had overcome a foot injury to play 20 games and is expected to improve after a pre-season.
Trengove said the experience had been a good one and he would not change his approach regardless of whether or not he was captain.
"It's not going to change the way I do anything, because it's the way I'm wired now – trying to lead from the front and be that type of person.
Trengove has played 79 matches since he made his AFL debut in round one, 2010 and is tied to the club until the end of 2016.