MELBOURNE has made four list changes, with former co-captain Jack Trengove and long-serving ruckman Jake Spencer among the departures.

Rookie Mitch White and young tall forward Liam Hulett have also been delisted.

General manager of football operations Josh Mahoney commended Trengove’s time at the club.

“Jack has been an outstanding person to have come through the Melbourne Football Club. He leaves having captained the club through some tough times and having provided genuine leadership to all his teammates, particularly the younger players coming through in recent times,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“His resilience and ability to overcome a serious foot injury was testament to his character. To again play at the highest level, when the odds were against him, was a credit to his perseverance and will to play in the AFL.

“He has been a highly-popular figure among the entire football club and our supporters, who have admired him greatly for his persistence.

“We thank Jack for his time and service to the club. He has left no stone unturned in his pursuit to forge an AFL career and to fight back from an injury that clearly impacted his career. He should be proud of his achievements in the face of adversity.”

Trengove played 86 matches for Melbourne after being selected at No.2 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.

After playing 79 of a possible 88 games in his first four seasons from 2010-13, Trengove played just seven matches from 2014-17, after a debilitating injury derailed his career.

Trengove suffered an injury to his navicular bone in his left foot, which sidelined him for most of 2014-15.

He required a couple of operations on his foot, before he returned to play three matches last year and another two this year, while he was one of Casey’s best in 2017. It was an outstanding effort to return to the highest level, given the severity of his injury.

At just 20 years, 217 days, and with 39 matches to his name, Trengove became the youngest permanent captain appointed in VFL/AFL history. He was named co-captain with former Demon Jack Grimes for the start of the 2012 season.

Trengove and Grimes remained co-captains for 2013, until Trengove stepped down at the end of that season.

A NAB AFL Rising Star nominee in 2010 (he finished fourth overall), Trengove represented Australia in the 2011 International Rules Series against Ireland.

Mahoney also praised Spencer’s commitment to Melbourne for the past decade.

“Jake has been at the club for the past 10 seasons, arriving as a raw ruckman from Townsville. Jake overcame a host of injuries to become a back-up ruckman for Mark Jamar and then Max Gawn. This can be a frustrating role at times, but Jake is a competitive person, who gave his all with any opportunity he got in his time at the club,” he said.

“Of our current players, only Nathan Jones and Colin Garland have been on our list for a greater period than Jake, who was drafted at No.35 in the Rookie Draft, held in December 2007.

“We thank Jake for his efforts and wish him well in the future.”

Spencer played 38 matches for Melbourne after making his AFL debut in round one, 2009.

He became the first person from Townsville to play an AFL match.

Injuries often came throughout his career – from round 14, 2010 to round 14, 2012 he didn’t play an AFL match, after he suffered a knee injury in the 2011 season.

His 2013 season was arguably his best, when he played eight matches for the season and received the Coaches’ Award.

Spencer made two appearances this year – his first was against Fremantle in round four, when he was one of Melbourne’s best, while he suffered a shoulder injury the following match against Richmond, which interrupted his season.

In thanking White, Mahoney said the defender fought hard to play at the highest level.

“Mitch has been on our rookie list for three seasons and within that time he has played well enough to be upgraded twice to the senior list. Some of the inclusions we have made to our list in recent years has made it difficult for Mitch to get opportunities,” he said.

White made his debut in Melbourne’s final round clash against GWS Giants in 2015.

He added two matches last year, before making one appearance in 2017 against the Sydney Swans in round 15.

Mahoney also thanked Hulett for his service at the club.

Hulett, who was drafted at No.46 in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft, spent two seasons at the club.

The tall forward didn’t play an AFL match, as he played for Casey Demons in the VFL and AFL Victoria Development League.