Nathan Jones to continue as Melbourne captain in 2016

NATHAN Jones, who was confirmed as Demons captain for 2016, is close to being back in full training after having neck surgery in September.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 11: Nathan Jones handballs during a Melbourne Demons AFL pre-season training session at AAMI Park on December 11, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE skipper Nathan Jones is close to being back in full training after having neck surgery in September.

Jones, 27, on Friday was confirmed as Demons captain for 2016 — a decision coach Paul Roos described as a formality — before he trained with his teammates for the first time this pre-season following a long block of running after he had an artificial disc inserted in his neck.

He got the all-clear from his surgeon on Tuesday and was champing at the bit to get back into the action.

“It’s been a three-month recovery since then and I’ve been getting flogged in running the last couple of weeks,” Jones said.

“But now I can start joining back into skills … slowly integrate back into some contact work and eventually tackling after a month or two.

“I’m three or four weeks ahead of where I thought I’d be and I’ll hopefully get in a couple of games in the NAB Challenge and I’ll be 100 per cent for round one.”

Next season will be Jones’ third straight as skipper, and he admits the growing depth of the club’s leadership stocks is heartening after a few years of relative drought.

“In the past, we’ve relied on too few,” he said, highlighting Jack Viney — son of former club captain Todd — and Tom McDonald as two budding leaders.

Nathan Jones is back training with teammates. Picture: Getty Images

“Now, with some of the characters we’re bringing through, even though they’re young they display some terrific traits.

“We’ve got a great blend of leadership and experience. Those young guys have got to continue to learn and gain experience.”

Fellow midfielder Bernie Vince was spotted sporting a brace on his hand, with Jones confirming his teammate had broken his little finger at training last week.

“He’s got a little pin in there. It’s pretty standard, most boys at this time of year might suffer something minor like that, but that’s not going to affect him in terms of weights and running,” he said.

“A little bit of (an interruption) with ball work for a few weeks, but he’ll be sweet.”

Roos wouldn’t put finals on the agenda for the Demons after a long period starved of success, saying the challenge now lies with the coaching group to develop what is a young and promising list.

“We’re certainly moving in the right direction,” he said.

“It’s fine having a great list and young kids coming in ... (but) we’ve got to turn them into good players. That’s the main role for the coaching group.”

Originally published as Nathan Jones to continue as Melbourne captain in 2016