JACK Grimes says he’d love teammate James Frawley to remain with the club, but understands he has a big decision to make about his playing future.

Frawley, a free agent, has attracted the interest of several clubs, but a decision on whether he takes up that option or remains with Melbourne has yet to be confirmed.

Grimes said it was “a tough one to deal with” but he was hopeful Frawley would remain in the red and blue. 

“‘Chipper’ (Frawley) is a big boy and he can make his own decision. I don’t think he needs any added pressure from us (teammates) to make the decision. We’d love him to make it sooner rather than later,” he told Dee TV.

“There was a bit of attention throughout the year, which you say you try and avoid, but the reality is that it’s there. But it’s his decision and if he wants to talk to us about things moving forward at the club, we’re more than happy with that.”

Grimes said the constant speculation surrounding Frawley’s future was an issue in 2014.

“Unfortunately for him, as much as he tried to avoid it, the pressure at times probably did get to him,” he said.

“I think he handled himself really well throughout the year. There was no sense from us that he was going anywhere, because the way he was applying himself with his training and around the club and the boys was 100 per cent – the way it always is. He’s a real leader for us and he stays that way.

“I know he wasn’t happy with his year on a personal note. He was a bit up and down as well, but it wasn’t through a lack of trying. He still completely applied himself and was the leader that we needed him to be.

“From our point of view, it wasn’t an issue of what he was dishing up to us, but we’re still hoping he stays and still a decision has got to be made … so we’ll wait and see on that, but I do feel for him at the same time.”

Grimes said the notion that every Melbourne player was tradable – a statement made by coach Paul Roos following the team’s final match of the season against North Melbourne – was simply “the reality of footy these days”.

“It’s just that no one says it. Every player is and we know that – no matter what position you have on the list. This time of the year is a really awkward one, because a lot of people are leaving and getting told that they’re getting delisted and guys are being traded,” he said.

“It’s also a real positive because you get new guys into the club and new draftees a bit later. That side of it is really positive, but it is hard because you’ve got a lot of mates that are unfortunately leaving or moving around.

“But that’s the industry that we’re in – we’re in AFL footy and every year there are changes. But we’re very clear that no matter who we are, me included, everyone’s tradable, so we’ve got to be on our toes.”

Meanwhile, Grimes said the club learned a valuable lesson following its recent ‘Mad Monday’ episode, when defenders Dean Terlich and Alex Georgiou wore inappropriate attire.

“We sat down as a group and talked about things and planned out what it was going to look like for us – and we planned the day, but we didn’t do enough,” he reflected.

“We had a couple of the boys get in some strife and it’s not just on them, but us leaders for not doing anything about it.

“It is a tough one, because it is a fine line between having fun and going over the top and how people interpret it – especially for us as a footy club and where we sit – there is always going to be scrutiny. We have to be really smart with those decisions.

“For the whole group and for those guys in particular and for us as leaders, it was a real lesson learned.”