ROOKIE Mitch White says he’s determined to make every post a winner in his first year on an AFL list.

Taken at pick 20 in last year’s rookie draft, White was the final player added to Melbourne’s 2015 list.

But the “running, reliable half back”, who was drafted off the back of winning the best and fairest at TAC Cup side Dandenong Stingrays, said he was thriving on the opportunity to develop within an AFL environment.

“Playing games is the main goal but up until then, I just want to develop as much as possible in this [environment],” White told melbournefc.com.au.

“Seeing as I’ve only got a year [as a rookie], I’ve just got to cram in as much as I can, learn as much as I can and develop as much as I can and make sure I’m here next year.”

Having joined the playing group in December alongside fellow rookie Aaron vandenBerg, the left-footer said the mental and physical demands of an AFL pre-season had been everything he’d expected.

 “It’s been really good – it’s lived up to expectations and been pretty much exactly what I thought it would be in terms of toughness,” White said.

“Some of the things [have exceeded my] expectations but a lot of things I’ve been able to cope with, which is pretty good.”

Having spent 11 days in Maroochydore for Melbourne’s pre-season camp, White said the time away had been the perfect opportunity to build a rapport with the rest of the playing group.

“The main thing you learn is just how important the relationships are with your teammates,” White said.

“It’s about being able to get each other through the sessions and working hard as a group to achieve that same goal, which is getting fitter and then playing good footy.”