Jack Grimes steps down as Melbourne Demons co-captain

NATHAN Jones will be elevated to sole captaincy of the Melbourne Football Club after Jack Grimes’ decision to step down from the role.

Melbourne Demons

NATHAN Jones will be elevated to sole captaincy of the Melbourne football club after Jack Grimes’ decision to step down from the role.

The Demons have seen both of their 2012 co-captains — Grimes and Jack Trengove — step down within three years of their appointment by then coach Mark Neeld.

Grimes is likely to remain in the leadership group next year but wants to concentrate on football after solid but unexceptional recent performances.

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While Jones will likely have to wait until February to be announced as sole captain, there is no contender to become a co-captain alongside him.

Jones has been seen as the heart and soul of the club for several years given his bullocking style and passion for the red and blue.

Jack Grimes and Nathan Jones led the Demons in 2014. Picture: Colleen Petch

He won his third best-and-fairest at the club this year, with Jimmy Stynes the only other Demon to achieve that feat. He spoke then about the club’s direction, hopeful it would soon turn around.

“In the time that I’ve been here I think we’ve lacked direction, but I can guarantee I’ve never been more confident in the direction that we’re heading now,” Jones said.

“I honestly don’t think success is too far away.”

Grimes is determined to maximise his performances on the field without the distraction of captaincy.

“There is no doubt my leadership has evolved and developed,” he said.

“However, clearly on-field is the most important aspect of leadership, and my own on-field performance needs to improve.

Jack Grimes is wanting to concentrate on his own form. Picture: Mark Stewart

“I believe I can use all my mental and physical energy into improving my on-field performance, which will be the best thing for myself and the team.”

The Demons will consider adding new recruit Heritier Lumumba to the leadership group, with players having a big say about its formation.

Coach Paul Roos told the Herald Sun at the weekend he wanted Lumumba to share his premiership wisdom with his younger teammates.

Trengove has been told by Roos he was not shopped around by the club in a “fire sale”, despite being offered to Richmond for a first-round draft pick. Instead, the coach said it was an opportunity for a fresh start for Trengove and the club.

Trengove is happy staying at Melbourne and he has not ruled out playing in 2015 despite the injury setback from a fractured navicular bone in his foot.

Originally published as Jack Grimes steps down as Melbourne Demons co-captain