MELBOURNE player/coach performance manager Brendan McCartney provides an update on all 45 players in the lead-up to the 2017 season. Be sure to check back each day for most of January, as we present this year’s squad …

Nathan Jones

He’s a credit to himself. Every year, Nathan comes back from the off-season and post-Christmas period in great shape. He’s learning some new positions and learning some different ways of doing things. Nathan’s doing everything right to have another great year. He’s been ultra-consistent for a long time and I’ve got no doubt he will be again in 2017.

Declan Keilty

Declan’s a rookie from Casey, so he understands our system somewhat. He’s played under a similar system under Justin Plapp at Casey and spent some time with us last Christmas/New Year in 2015/16. We liked the improvement in him during that period and we’ve been watching him closely at Casey, given our alignment and with Melbourne coaches in regular attendance. He’s a good size and athlete, and looks like he’s got the attributes to become a good player.

Ben Kennedy

Ben’s had a good summer. He knows that there are quite a few people fighting for one of those two or three positions, so he’s aware of that. He’s working really hard on all aspects of his game to be the best he can be. His application has been first class.