JACK Trengove says he hasn’t pondered whether he will be in Melbourne’s leadership group next year.

Trengove, who was co-captain for two seasons and the game’s youngest full-time captain when appointed in 2012, was part of Melbourne’s leadership group in 2014.

But given he missed most of this year with a foot injury, Trengove said being part of the club’s leadership next year was “not something I’ve put a whole lot of thought into to be honest”.

“The leadership group is something that comes about if the players want you in there,” he told Dee TV.

“If I’m doing the right things over the off-season and pre-season – and the players want me in the leadership group – then I’d put my hand up, because I want to do everything to help out the group and make sure we improve.

“At the same time, there is an element of needing to be a bit more selfish to make sure I get my body really right. The best thing for the team at the moment is to make sure I’m playing at my best and that’s the best way I can help out.

“If it comes about and the players want me in there, then I’m happy to jump at it and I’ll do everything in my control to make sure this club’s going in the right direction.

“At the same time, I’ve got to be taking care of my own individual game as well to help out the team that way as well.”

Trengove said the fact he didn’t carry the co-captaincy mantle in 2014 didn’t change him at all. 

“I still act the same way around the club and do the same things I did previously,” he said.

“There might be an element of pressure taken off the shoulders, but at the same time, you still have to go in and make sure you’re delivering on the field each week and I’m still putting that pressure on myself – whether I was captain or not captain.

“It’s been a whirlwind the last couple of years with plenty of things going on. There are a lot of positive signs out there for the team and where we’re going and it’s just a matter of me putting in the hard yards now.”

Trengove said he simply wanted to take his game to the next level in 2015.

“It’s going to be a pretty brutal pre-season from all reports and I’m actually looking forward to it, because I haven’t been able to train for a long time,” he said.

“The guys are going to have to be … mentally prepared because it’s going to be a tough time. It’s exactly what the team needs and a lot of individuals like myself need a really good hard hit-out this pre-season to take that next step next year.

“That’s the way we’re going to improve as a team, so I’m looking forward to that part as well.”

Trengove said next year was a big season for him, as he wanted to return from injury a better player.

“With long-term injuries, you do get a little bit lost there. Where my career’s at –at the moment – I’m going into my sixth year and it’s the biggest pre-season that I’m in for – just because of my age,” he said.

“The real improvement needs to come from this group – the guys who are my age and have been around for five years or so. We need to take that next step – our top players have taken that step – but there are just not enough of them at the moment.

“I put myself in that category at the moment and I’d love to have played in more winning games and played better at this stage of my career, but I haven’t been able to unfortunately.

“I’m just making sure I do everything possible now and within my control to make sure I am having success sooner rather than later, because careers come and go pretty quickly. I sit back now and I’ve finished five years in the system and it feels like I got drafted yesterday, so you’ve got to make the most of it.

“It’s a really important pre-season ahead for me because I want to be doing a lot more than what I’ve been doing the last two years – playing wise.”