MELBOURNE'S reigning best and fairest winner Brent Moloney admits he was disappointed when told he was not included in the club's leadership group this year. 

The former vice-captain who polled 19 Brownlow votes in 2011 went home that night with two choices: either sulk or accept the decision.

In the end it was hardly a choice.

The next time he turned up for training he was focused on continuing to lead the way on the track, even if he no longer carried a title.

"The decision had been made so you've got to move on. We're professionals [so]you have got to move on quickly. You can't stop in this game," Maloney said.

However if a person is not careful in such situations they can find an anchor has attached itself to their bottom lip. Moloney was determined to be positive.

"It can really bring the group down if a player sulks around. I have seen it. I've seen it happen," he said. "So I had a real focus and I've carried that on since the news. Things like this can make you a better player."

It wasn't as though Moloney didn't understand a need for change. He says you only have to look at where the club has finished in the past five years - 14th, 16th, 16th, 12th and 13th last year - to recognise the team's performances have not been good enough.

"We needed someone to come in and obviously rebuild that culture and I think we're heading in the right direction," Moloney said.

Outsiders have criticised the senior group but that is of little concern to Moloney now.

His voice quietens as he outlines what really matters to him on the eve of round one: "It's what you do now, it's not what has happened. I can't change the past. I can only change the future so that is all I am looking at. I'm looking forward to this season," he said. 

Moloney won't detail any of the conversation he had with Neeld at the time the leadership group was decided. But he says he had a good catch-up with the coach last week. "We've got a good relationship and I really want to grow that relationship because it is obviously important," said Moloney. 

He likes Neeld's direct approach, saying he would prefer someone who delivers the message straight. "I love it. It's great. You know where you sit," said Moloney.

Where Melbourne sits is one of the many unknowns going into 2012.

Moloney thinks the midfield will benefit from more numbers running through that part of the ground and bigger bodies being around the ball.

Moloney mentions Matthew Bate and James Magner and Nathan Jones and Tom Couch as players that are difficult to knock off the ball.

The group's education continues, with the objective of removing the team's tendency to leak goals - as occurred in previous years - high on the to-do list. "We know we can move the ball really well and are able to score but we want to stop the opposition from scoring. That has been a real focus," he said.

In 2011, Melbourne scored the 10th most points but was 13th on the points against table.

From a personal perspective Moloney feels fit and ready. The centre clearance specialist is a key player as he is tenacious, and chases the ball at stoppages like it's the last train home.

He wins his own ball with 56.2 per cent of his 2011 possession won via contested balls.

He knows there are parts of his game he can improve. If he can find space to take some more uncontested marks that would signal one improvement. A few more goals, he admits, would be handy too. He has kicked just 34 goals in 130 games. "It is just balancing the contested and uncontested footy, getting forward and getting on the end of a few. That's probably something I will work on this year," he said.

Being fitter will help because his willingness to work has never been questioned.

Nor has his commitment dipped after he responded positively to being dropped out of the leadership group in early 2011 after a night out drinking. He was reinstated into the leadership group later in the season.

That’s all behind him now. He says the group is really focused on improving and respecting the legacy of Jim Stynes in the right way: with consistent performance.

His voice drops to a whisper. You get the sense Moloney is done with talking. He wants the football to start. "The body feels good and I am really excited about the new season," he said.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs