Clayton Oliver
9.5
This bloke is a star. Inside bull who draws a crowd, but never lets that faze him. Melbourne’s best first-possession winner at stoppages who kick-starts their attack. A competitor who is hard of head and hard of heart. Let’s not forget he is still only 25.
Christian Petracca
9.0
Sorry Trac, we’ve marked you just under Clarry. But if you can change your goal-kicking conversion (19 goals, 31 behinds last year), we’ll have you equal to your midfield partner in crime. Another star who will be motivated to chase that second premiership.
Max Gawn
9.0
Tower of strength for Melbourne for so long and leads from the front. The recruitment of Brodie Grundy will mean he will likely spend more time forward with the hope he can hit the scoreboard more regularly. Absolute star and exceptional leader.
Steven May
9.0
Is it any wonder Demons fans were cheering his new contract extension, taking him through until the end of the 2025 season. He is a pillar of strength down back, a real traffic cop. He gets the best forward each week and more often than not beats them. Had a few off-field challenges last year, but barely missed a beat when he stepped over the white line.
Angus Brayshaw
8.0
Multi-positional player who has seen the ups and downs as a Melbourne player. Now that he has had a taste of success, he will continue to drive high standards for himself and for his club.
Brodie Grundy
8.0
This is one of the most fascinating list management decisions of the past decade. If the Demons’ contentious move to unite the two best ruckmen of the past five years works, look out! It might result in a second flag in three seasons for the club. And it looked pretty darn good in the practice match win over Richmond.
Jack Viney
8.0
As tough as old teak. This bloke will never shirk an issue with his intent to win the footy and bring his teammates into the contest. Opposition mids always know he is in the vicinity. Forms a strong part of one of the AFL’s best midfield brigades.
Bayley Fritsch
7.5
Opportunistic forward who has got it done on the biggest stage of all. Trusted goalkicker (55.22 last year) who can make something out of nothing. Great skills and game awareness.
Ed Langdon
7.5
Langdon plays one of the most difficult roles on the wing almost as well as anyone. He has great fitness, enabling him to get up and down the ground with ease. Still a bit underrated.
Jake Lever
7.5
His value to the team lies in his intercept ability, but he gets seriously challenged when he has to defend one on one. Like some of his teammates, he had a more modest 2022 off the back of the flag success, and will be looking to bounce back harder this year.
Kysaiah Pickett
7.5
Excitement machine who will be given more midfield minutes. Has been a star on the track this preseason. Pickett must get his hands on the ball more as he is better than a 10-disposal per game player. Massive year ahead as he weighs up offers to return home to South Australia, or to remain a one-club player. C’mon Pickett, sign on the dotted line and stay!
Christian Salem
7.5
If he was fit and well, he would be an 8/10, but he has had a difficult preseason as he deals with a thyroid issue. Let’s hope he overcomes it sooner rather than later as he is in the top bracket of talent and importance. His teammates give him the footy for a reason.
Lachie Hunter
7.0
Brings experience as a premiership player to an already strong outfit, adding value to the Demons’ wing depth along with Ed Langdon, James Jordon and potentially Angus Brayshaw. Will be reinvigorated at his new club as his practice match form indicated.
James Harmes
6.5
Provides the team with great flexibility and can be used in a variety of roles. You could never question his willingness to compete. It’s almost in his DNA. C’mon Goody, we’d love to see him spend more time on the ball, which we saw for periods in the preseason.
Tom McDonald
6.5
If anyone doubted his importance to the forward mix, 2022 would have silenced those thoughts. Melbourne won every game he played last season, but a Lisfranc injury stopped him in Round 10. The forward line wasn’t the same without him. A solid preseason gives the Demons hope he can get back to his best - and the forward line can function better.
Tom Sparrow
6.5
Adds depth to the midfield, but could win more of his own footy. He is more of an outside mid who runs the lines well. Can get better, and the Demons hope he will. We would love to see him turn low 20s disposal averages into the high 20s, which would boost his overall impact.
Michael Hibberd
6.0
Entering the twilight of his career, we hope his body stays sound as he is still an important part of Melbourne’s defence. His organisation skills and match-up capabilities are big assets.
Alex Neal-Bullen
6.0
The Demons’ hardest running role player who supports stoppages and creates overlap. An underrated and important part of the team’s structure. Restricted free agent at season’s end.
Harrison Petty
6.0
He is an integral part of Melbourne’s three-pronged tall defensive structure, but who’s to say that Goody can’t throw him forward at times to challenge the opposition. It could act as a stimulus to him and the team.
Trent Rivers
6.0
Faces a challenge this season after falling out of favour at times in 2022. Must revisit the desperation and competitive spirit which was so evident in 2021. He is too good a player not to become a permanent fixture in this team, but he will have to work for it.
Charlie Spargo
6.0
Opportunistic forward who is a beautiful kick, even though his scoreboard tally last year was 10.12. Plays in the role known as ‘starvation corner’ but generally makes the most of his opportunities as he has good footy nous.
Jake Bowey
5.5
Didn’t drop off a cliff last year, but plateaued in the second half of the season. Needs to start believing again like when he was the surprise packet of the Demons’ 2021 premiership side. Maybe Christian Salem’s health issues can give him an early opportunity, and he looked good in the preseason win over Richmond.
Ben Brown
5.5
Kicked 30 goals from his 19 games in a difficult second season in red and blue. Covid, a VFL suspension and a knee injury impacted on his consistency. Needs to lift as one of the club’s primary forward 50 target players.
James Jordon
5.5
Good role player who has graduated from sub to permanent fixture within the team. Will spend much of his time on the wing where he can find the footy and will be motivated after missing last year’s finals due to injury.
Jake Melksham
5.0
Can be relied upon when it comes to forward 50 contests and scoring opportunities. Won his spot back in the side late in the season and helped to sink the Blues in Round 22 with four goals. Did enough to guarantee a one-year-deal. The 31-year-old must now justify that faith.
Jacob Van Rooyen
5.0
Has come so close to making his AFL debut on multiple occasion, only to just miss out. That looks like being the case in round 1 again. He is a very talented young forward with plenty of scope. But who makes way for him? The Demons love him and have locked him in until the end of 2025. Can he fit in with Ben Brown, Tom McDonald, Bayley Fritsch and even at times Max Gawn? He’ll get his chance at some stage.
Kade Chandler
5.0
A fringe player who has filled the gaps in recent seasons who might get a few more opportunities now that Toby Bedford has moved to the Giants. He will need to grab any opportunity to lock down a role and has performed well over the trial games.
Luke Dunstan
4.5
Imagine trying to break into Melbourne midfield right now? It ain’t easy. He is a depth player who brings experience. Doubt he is in their best 23. His quest to break into the team won’t be easy after he suffered a recent hamstring injury.
Joel Smith
4.5
Can be relied upon when needed as he competes well. Injuries have held him back for most of his career. Others looked to have passed him as one of the first-choice defenders, but if the chance arrives, you can be guaranteed he will be ready for it.
Josh Schache
4.5
Key forwards are rare commodities, but this is his third AFL club, so he must make a stand. He is contracted until the end of next year, but this has to be his line-in-the-sand moment. He needs to consistently assault the ball as if his footy life depends on it.
Daniel Turner
4.5
In the one game he played last year - Queen’s Birthday - we saw a snippet of the attributes he possesses- before he was concussed - they are of AFL standard. His competitiveness and appetite for hard work is something the coach would love. (Rookie)
Judd McVee
4.5
Hard to assess as he spent his first season on the rookie list playing with Casey. Got some good grounding in the VFL and has some upside, even if it will be a hard side to break into. But he played in their last practice victory over Richmond. (Rookie)
Adam Tomlinson
4.0
Has been in and out of the team, largely due to injuries, which have hurt his overall continuity. Played eight games last year in his return from an ACL. Is he an immediate selection? Has to earn his spot, but gives some defensive insurance.
Taj Woewodin
4.0
Hasn’t played AFL footy yet, but had a good grounding in the VFL last season, playing in Casey’s premiership side. Defender/midfielder who is still awaiting that senior call-up, but looked sharp in the practice match against Richmond.
Blake Howes
3.5
Possibly a surprise packet for the Demons in 2023. He has been locked in until the end of 2025, a measure of what the club thinks of him. Had some injury issues but got some good game time at VFL level in the back end of the season, playing in Casey’s premiership side.
Bailey Laurie
3.5
Still yet to make his AFL debut as he enters his third season in the system, but that could change after a solid year with Casey in the VFL. Kicked 23 goals as part of the VFL’s premiership side and the small forward is already contracted until the end of next year.
Matthew Jefferson
3.5
Difficult to see this pick 15 first round draft selection making too much of an impression in year one, but who’s to say he won’t get a look in if injuries strike. He will be soaking up plenty of experience learning from the likes of Brown, Fritsch and McDonald. He might even spend time forward with the captain at some stage.
Jed Adams
2.5
Tall defender who was the Demons’ second round draft pick from last year. This is not an easy defence to break into, but he will learn quickly from some established teammates.
Andy Moniz-Wakefield
2.0
Next Generation Academy player who was another young Demon to play in the VFL premiership side, which was a great learning curve. Small forward who can improve. (Rookie)
Oliver Sestan
2.0
Rookie draft smoky who was taken from outside the traditional pathways. Medium-sized small forward who turned heads when he kicked 24 goals in a game for Mansfield and had to get an earlier flight back from ‘Schoolies’ to join the Demons. Won’t be rushed. (Rookie)
Deaklyn Smith
2.0
Next Generation Academy project player who cut his teeth as a defender in the VFL last year before injury ended his season in the back end. (Rookie)
Will Verrall
2.0
Young ruckman (199cm) who will learn so much from Gawn and Grundy in his first season in the system, but don’t expect him to play anytime soon. Project player. (Rookie)
Kyah Farris-White
2.0
Hard to assess as he is a Category B former basketballer who is unlikely to get a look in this season with Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn leading the ruck stocks. (Rookie)
Kye Turner
2.0
Plucked out of obscurity from a mixture of Old Haileybury and Frankston and spent the summer training at the Dees. What a story it would be if he makes the grade. Won’t happen overnight given their depth. (Rookie)
