Nathan Jones puts up hand for Melbourne captaincy

DUAL best-and-fairest winner Nathan Jones says he wants to captain Melbourne under new coach Paul Roos.

Stride players show off their movember mos, led by Demons Jesse Hogan, Nathan Jones and Mark Jamar. Picture: Tony Gough

DUAL best-and-fairest winner Nathan Jones says he wants to captain Melbourne under new coach Paul Roos.

The bull-at-a-gate midfielder has been the club's best player in the past two years and thrived when elevated to the co-captaincy late in the season.

It was only a taste of leadership, but he says he will put his hand up to be one of the captaincy contenders chosen in February next year.

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Jones joined a host of Stride Sports Managements clients raising money for Movember after returning for his first week of training under Roos.

He said he would love to be a captain, whether by himself or with another co-captain.

"From a personal perspective I would love to captain this footy club. If it arises I will be putting my hand up. It was only for a week or two but I loved my time as a leader,'' he said.

"Roosy came along and said he had no preconceived ideas. The captaincy is open for selection. There is no doubt I will be putting my hand up. We will go through the process with Leading Teams and I am intent on being part of the leadership group and the captaincy is chosen from there.

"For me being vice-captain was about trying to stand up when we really needed it. It was putting myself out there, but also fast-tracking guys like Jimmy Toumpas and Jack Viney."

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Jones said he was hugely impressed by what he had seen of young tall Jesse Hogan, and said he believed in Toumpas despite a modest first season.

"I see their work ethic and where they want to take their footy. It is really hard for those guys to come in and make an impact when the team is going so bad, but we have a lot to be confident about with Jesse coming in and even the senior guys like Daniel Cross and Bernie Vince and Dom Tyson who we have recruited as well."

Stride has more than 50 AFL clients including Cats captain Joel Selwood, Dees ruckman Mark Jamar and Richmond utility Ricky Petterd, who have so far raised over $14,0000 for the Movember cause.

Movember Ambassador and Stride director Glenn Archer there was a personal connection given Stride founder Ian Foote required surgery for prostate cancer in 2007.

"Ian is in remission now, but his experience serves as a constant reminder of the importance for the need to increase awareness of men's health,'' the Shinboner of the Century said.

"The campaign has also served as a way of bringing our entire organisation together to work as a team.''