Trengove was hampered by a chronic foot injury in recent years, restricting him to seven senior matches in the past four seasons after he played 79 of a possible 88 games between 2010 and 2013. The navicular bone injury in his left foot sidelined the 26-year-old for most of 2014 and 2015.

Five years ago new Melbourne coach Mark Neeld made the controversial decision to make Trengove and Jack Grimes co-captains. At 20, Trengove was the youngest captain in the game's history and he stayed in the post for two seasons.

Former Melbourne forward David Schwarz slammed the club on Tuesday for awarding the captaincy to the duo at the formative stages of their careers in 2012.

"Mark Neeld's two years at the Melbourne Footy Club tore the joint apart," Schwarz told SEN. "Not only tore the joint apart, but ruined two kids in the process, one being Jack Trengove, who leaves today, the other being Jack Grimes.

"They were far too young to give the boys the captaincy."

Melbourne's football manager Josh Mahoney commended Trengove for his service after the Demons selected Tom Scully and Trengove with the valuable top two picks in the 2009 draft.

"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," Mahoney told the club's website.

"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 the will to play in the AFL."

Melbourne have also delisted ruckman Jake Spencer, Mitch White and Liam Hulett.

Meanwhile, utility Ryan Harwood leads five delistings at Brisbane. The Lions also cut Jarrad Jansen, Jonathan Freeman, Josh Clayton and rookie-listed player Blake Grewar.

With AAP