“I went numb”: Ex-Dee reflects on being named co-captain at 22

Former Melbourne defender Jack Grimes certainly did the hard yards at the Demons.

Playing 100 times for the club from 2008 to 2016, Grimes won just 22 of those games and never tasted September action as the Dees finally climbed up from the bottom of the ladder once he was delisted at 27.

While his career had its downs, it also had a few fleeting ups, including being named co-captain alongside Jack Trengove in 2012, aged just 22.

The move was stunning at the time, given Trengove was just 20 years old and 37 games into his career. Grimes had played just 32 times before also taking over from Brad Green as skipper.

Speaking on This is Your Journey – thanks to Tobin Brothers, Grimes admits he went numb when informed of the leadership decision by then coach Mark Neeld.

“We had quite a few senior players at the club, guys that I really looked up to and had played a lot of senior footy with, guys like Brad Green and Brent Maloney. I definitely wasn't seeing myself, going into that year as a potential co-captain,” Grimes said on This is Your Journey – thanks to Tobin Brothers.

“I think it was my first year in the leadership group from memory, but he (Mark Neeld) brought me into his office, sat me down and he was straight to the point.

“He just said, ‘You’re going to be co-captain of the footy club’, and I just went numb.

“I had no idea, genuinely didn't expect it, never even thought it would be in consideration because I'd played 32 games of AFL footy, and then he told me I'm going to be co-captain with Jack Trengove, who was in a very similar position, but younger. It was a massive shock.

“When it all calmed down, the shock of it, I'd grown up a Melbourne supporter my whole life, my whole family are mad Melbourne and here I am then able to lead this great club as co-captain.

“I had a teary moment on the way home that day, because the enormity of it hit me, and how honoured I was.

“I was terrified at the same time, but this huge honour… it’s still my proudest moment of my sporting career, but it was definitely a shock, I won’t lie.”

Grimes spoke about that moment, his time at Melbourne and much more on this week’s episode.

Listen to Grimes' chat with Sam Edmund below.