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 …

Tim Smith

Tim’s a great story. We’re thrilled to be able to pick him up. He’s a self-made man and a self-made player. At this age, the fact that he’s had to invest so much into having an AFL career will stand him in really good stead. It means a lot to him and we think he’ll fight pretty hard for his spot. Our fans are going to enjoy his marking and his attack on the ball, along with his aggression.

Jake Spencer

He’s taken real steps forward this summer. It was difficult for Jake to find his way into the team last year, with Max’s fantastic year. He’s part of a ruck group that’s driven to help each other get better. I’ve seen him mature mentally over the break and get his head around what it takes – and what he needs to do to get a good crack at it.

Billy Stretch

He’s a pro in every sense of the word. Billy has built himself up over the summer. He’s very, very aware and is a clear thinker on what his strengths are and what his weaknesses are. He doesn’t overplay his weaknesses, but he doesn’t neglect them or avoid them. He works on them. Billy’s one of a big batch of kids who have shown all the right behaviours and appetite around work to have a good career and build themselves up.