GENERAL manager of football operations Josh Mahoney says it’s a “little win” for the club to hear that Melbourne is now being talked of as a destination club.

With Hawthorn great Jordan Lewis joining Melbourne on Tuesday, Mahoney said it was a big result to land the four-time premiership player.

He added that Melbourne only targeted Bomber Michael Hibberd – who joined the club on Wednesday – before the start of the trade period, until it found out Lewis wanted to wear the red and blue.

“Going into it, we started with pick 29, 48 and 66 and we targeted Michael Hibberd and thought that was all we’d do,” Mahoney told NAB AFL Trade Radio.  

“But to be in the position we are now and add some experience in Jordan Lewis and Michael Hibberd, and still be in the draft later on, is a good result.

“The signings we’ve been able to do for the long term also show the direction we’re heading. The more good people you get to the footy club – that’s the secret to success.”

Mahoney said Lewis’ relationship with Todd Viney played a big part in luring him to the club. He added that he was really proud of how quickly the club was able to put together.

“We want to roll out a better team in round one [next year] than round 23 this year,” he said.

“That’s always our aim and we think we’re pretty well placed with that.”

Mahoney said the club wasn’t looking to add Lion Tom Rockliff to its list.

“We haven’t touched base with Tom,” he said.

“We think that’s an area that we’re pretty well placed with our young midfielders coming forward and Jordan plays a little bit of a different role on the wing.

“We think the development we’re going to have in [Clayton] Oliver, [Angus] Brayshaw,[Dom] Tyson and [Jack] Viney – we’ll have to give them every opportunity to get them through the midfield.”

Mahoney said he expects rebounding defender Heritier Lumumba to remain at the club in 2017.