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 …

Harrison Petty
Harrison is a youngster we drafted at pick No.37 in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft. He comes from Wudinna on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. In his first few weeks at the club, he was building up in rehab, after he came to the club with a crack in his elbow. He rejoined the main group just before Christmas, where he had a few sessions. Overall, he’s doing a lot right so far.

Christian Salem
Christian came back for pre-season in great shape. He had a really big off-season in getting his body attuned to playing AFL footy. Christian continues to prove that at training – the quality of what he can produce at full fitness has been impressive. On track to become a 50-game player early in 2018, as he starts the season with 46 matches.

Joel Smith
Joel’s coming back from post-season surgery. He rejoined the main group after the New Year, but did some incredibly strong work in rehab before Christmas. He’s been building his body and making sure he’s ready to go. Joel enters the 2018 season on the senior list, after making his AFL debut in 2017. He played three matches last year, after starting as a category B rookie. 

Tim Smith (rookie)
Tim had surgery on his navicular bone and is close to rejoining the main group. He’ll probably need a couple of more weeks in January before that happens. We’re really excited about what Tim can produce and we’re looking forward to getting him back, after he made his AFL debut in 2017, playing two games before injury interrupted his season.