MELBOURNE coach Simon Goodwin provides an update on all 44 players in the lead-up to the 2018 season. Be sure to check back each day for much of January, as we present this year’s squad …

Alex Neal-Bullen
Along with Oscar McDonald, Alex has probably been the other real standout performer of the pre-season. He came back from the off-season in incredibly good shape and he’s training to a high standard – no matter where we place him. Alex has been training with the forwards and midfield, and I’m really excited about what he can produce in 2018.

Clayton Oliver
Clayton continues to do everything right after an outstanding 2017. He came back in great shape after winning the Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy, the Harold Ball Memorial Trophy and the AFLCA best young player award. He hasn’t put a foot wrong and did everything right leading up to the Christmas period.

Cameron Pedersen
Cameron came back from the off-season in great shape, after having a really solid 2017 season. He played 15 matches last year and is now entering his eighth AFL season – his sixth with Melbourne after his first two years were at North Melbourne. He continues to make every day count, is training really well and building strongly for 2018.

Christian Petracca
Christian hasn’t missed a beat this pre-season, after playing every game in 2017. He now has 39 games under his belt since making his AFL debut in 2016. Christian’s been training with the midfield group, but will continually evolve between the midfield and forward line, as we continue to move towards the 2018 season.