A 'BROKEN' Nathan Jones has revealed he contemplated retirement following Melbourne's disastrous 2019 campaign.
As part of the Demons' 'To Hell and Back' documentary series launching on Sunday night, an emotional Jones opened up on the toll of last year's five-win season.
Captain for six years, including the past three as co-captain alongside Jack Viney, Jones will stand aside for a new leadership structure in 2020.
"I'd been dwelling on that decision for a while," Jones said on the first episode of the five-part series.
"If you went right back, there was contemplation of whether I should continue to play, was my passion still there?
"I think physically I always felt like I was capable, (but) I think last year really broke me down mentally and come the end of the season I just had a lot to think about."
After protracted contract negotiations, the midfielder signed a one-year extension at season's end.
Jones went on to address his teammates on the morning of the 2019 best and fairest in September.
After a preliminary final exit in 2018 that provided hope, the 32-year-old delivered a call to action to teammates to ensure they didn't slump to the lows of 2019.
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"Obviously my number one priority was to make the best decision for the footy club and the best decision for this playing group, so I've decided I'm going to step away from that role as captain," Jones said.
"Off the back of that, it's going to require guys to step up, step up and lead.
"F--- the narrative that's out there that we don't have leaders in this room because we do.
"But you've got to have the balls and courage to step up and help Jack, help me, help Max (Gawn), help Nev (Jetta) and the other guys who have been driving this club for a long time.
"If we're going to make change, I think that's what it's going to take because I don't want to be back where we were last year."
Gawn is tipped to be assume co-captaincy alongside Viney or the role outright when the Demons' leadership group is announced in coming weeks.
Jones' address features in the first episode alongside key opening speeches from coach Simon Goodwin and new fitness boss Darren Burgess on the Demons' road to redemption.
Plus, it includes an insight into the pre-seasons of Jones, Gawn, Viney, James Harmes, Braydon Preuss, Jayden Hunt and Jake Melksham away from the club during their off-season break.
The five-part series will be released at 7pm AEDT every Sunday night in the lead-up to round one on melbournefc.com.au and the Demons' social media channels, plus this Sunday on AFL.com.au.
