SIMON Goodwin has praised the club’s high performance team for having most of its squad available, which is producing stability and consistency in the side.

With Tom McDonald and Jack Viney now back from foot injuries, Melbourne’s injury list has continued to shrink, and Goodwin praised his medial and fitness staff for overseeing that area.

“Our high performance staff have done a great job,” he said post-match after Melbourne’s 109-point win over Carlton at the MCG.

“Last year we suffered a fair few injuries, but to have Tom [McDonald] is important to us. He structurally plays a really important role for us and to get Jack [Viney] back after a long period of time out of the game is really pleasing.

“We’ve got experienced players that are leaders of our footy club and they can help the team progress forward.”

Goodwin added that his side had been building strongly ever since it went down to Hawthorn by 67 points at the MCG in round four.

“It was pleasing. We’ve been building since the Hawthorn game,” he said.

“It was a while ago now, but as a footy club we’ve been able to get on top of a few things structurally – we probably weren’t playing the way we wanted to play.

“I think the last period of time – we’ve been building into a performance like this.”

Goodwin said his side was structurally really poor on the day against the Hawks.

“We didn’t play anywhere near the level … and it doesn’t matter – win or loss – it’s how you play.”

“I think the boys have learnt a lot from that game, in terms of what’s required – and continue to be the team that we want to be and play the way we want to play.

“I think there has been huge growth in the group over a period of time. We still know there is a lot of work to be done to be the team that we ultimately want to become. That takes time, that takes patience and it takes a lot of hard work.”