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 …

Max Gawn
Max had an injury-interrupted 2017, after being sidelined from rounds four to 13 with a hamstring. He came back from his off-season eight kilos lighter and has since been training at an incredibly high standard this pre-season. Max is really driving our younger ruckmen, Mitch King and Lochie Filipovic, and is really helping develop their ruck craft. 

Mitch Hannan
After making his AFL debut in round one last season, and playing 20 games in 2017, Mitch has put on three or four kilos over the off-season and summer. He is training really well – after having some body issues late in the 2017 season – but he is over those concerns. He has been travelling well and produced a good block of training this pre-season.

James Harmes
Now entering his fifth AFL-listed season, after starting as a rookie list player in 2014, Harmesy hasn’t missed a beat this pre-season. He continues to improve as a player and with his training. We’re enjoyed the work he put in pre-Christmas and we’re looking forward to that continuing into 2018. He is on target to pass the 50-game mark this season.

Michael Hibberd
Michael only entered the program in the last two to three weeks before the Christmas break, after returning from representing Australia against Ireland in the International Rules Series. After gaining All-Australian selection in his first year with the club, he is building his body up for the early stages in the New Year.