VETERAN Demon Mark Jamar says Melbourne’s midfield brigade has made genuine strides over the summer.

With the influx of several ball-winners to the club – a combination of experience and youth – Jamar said the further development of several players over the pre-season had taken to the midfield group to the next level.

He said the midfield group was also building a strong bond away from the field.

“We just had a midfield getaway [recently] with about six or seven of those new guys. To get to know the guys away from the Club is really important. They’re all gelling really well,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of different personalities but they’re genuine good people. I think that’s what we love at this footy club – just getting good people in it.

“That’s what we’ve done again, so I’m really rapt to see those guys come along. A few of them are starting to impress on the track already.”

Jamar said he was doing more work with the midfielders than he had done in recent years.

“I’m still not doing everything that some of these midfielders are doing,” he said.

“The boys are doing it really tough and from what I can see are really pushing each other. I just can’t believe sometimes how far some of these guys can push themselves. It’s pretty special.”