Melbourne veteran Brad Green tells dropped teammate Brent Moloney to work hard

HE'S been there himself this season, and former Melbourne captain has simple advice for dropped teammate Brent Moloney: work hard.

MELBOURNE veterain Brad Green might have been stripped of the captaincy but the 248-game AFL veteran is still playing a leadership role with the Demons.

The 31-year-old fought back from being dumped to the VFL by winning a recall to the senior side last week, kicking three goals as the Demons led at every change before fading badly in the last term to lose to Fremantle by 34 points.

Melbourne's 2011 club champion Brent Moloney was dropped to the VFL last week and Green says he has counselled the 28-year-old to simply put his shoulder to the wheel.

"I've had a chat to Brent," Green said of Moloney, who's averaging 16.1 disposals in 12 games compared to 23.1 possessions a game last season.

"You've got to do what the coaches are striving for you to do to get better and get your place back in the side.

"It's just about going and working hard, copping a whack on the chin and getting back up there and doing the best you can."

Green says his focus is on the rest of the season with the 16th-placed Demons and he's not thinking about his possible retirement.

Melbourne's 2010 club champion has played only seven senior matches in 2012, kicking five goals after booting 55 and 37 in the previous two seasons.

This week's retirement of Hawthorn's Cameron Bruce, Green's former Demons' teammate, led the Tasmanian left-footer to contemplate how a career can flash before one's eyes.

Green made his senior debut in 2000 when the Demons were Grand Finalists.

Melbourne played finals football again in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

"When it's time to give up, it's certainly sad," Green said.

"But everyone comes to an end. It's going to come to an end pretty soon for me.

"It just proves to the young guys that we've got in our club that time flies.

"You can't waste your time at an AFL club because we haven't played finals for six years.

"To the young players in our side, they've got to realise that finals don't come easy. It takes a lot of hard work to get there."

The Demons have won only two games, while Saturday night's Darwin opponents Port Adelaide is just one place higher on the ladder with four victories.

Green described his own season as an indifferent year.

"It's just nice to be back in the side at the moment," he said.