MELBOURNE skipper Nathan Jones says young midfielder Jimmy Toumpas can be a vital cog for the Demons if he can improve his consistency in 2015.
The 21-year-old midfielder showed positive signs in Saturday's win against the Western Bulldogs, gathering 24 disposals and using the ball well.
However entering his third season and the final year of his first contract – signed in 2013 before he had played a game – the No. 4 selection in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft needs to show signs that his development is gathering pace.
Jones was frank in his assessment of Toumpas, who has played 18 games in his two seasons at the Demons, when asked about him at the club's family day at Luna Park on Sunday.
"I think his best is good, but the distance between his best and worst footy is too far, and he has been working really hard on that," Jones said.
He said Toumpas needed to be able to move quickly on from mistakes so that his approach to the next contest wasn't affected.
"Footy is a game of mistakes and the challenge in game is being able to move on really quickly and worry about the next contest and continue to butter up," Jones said.
"I was really impressed with him [on Saturday], and he can be a vital cog for us. He has got that outside run and the skill that we're after and I know he is hungry for the contest as well."
Toumpas had an average 2014 before being ruled out late in the year with appendicitis.
He showed he could play in the VFL, winning both contested ball and using it well, but seemed to go into his shell at the senior level.
Jones said there was too much pressure applied on early draft picks to star immediately and overall Toumpas was progressing well.
"We have full confidence in him … he will be an important player for us," Jones said.
Jones was pick No.12 in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft and finished second in the club best and fairest in his second season, however he has only become an elite midfielder in the past three seasons winning the club best and fairest award each year.
He said it was hard to tell how much the team had improved from last season but said the experience the Demons acquired in Heritier Lumumba, Jeff Garlett, Ben Newton and Sam Frost added depth and class to the list.
Jones said Christian Salem, who was very good playing a defensive role against the Western Bulldogs, had been most impressive during the past two to three months so his early season form was not a surprise.
"We really see him as a classy player. [He's] pretty tough and hard at it and obviously uses the ball pretty well," Jones said.
Salem had a gradual introduction to the team under Paul Roos, playing 12 games in 2014 and making his debut as a substitute in round six.
The 19-year-old is likely to play a role in defence, with his excellent kicking skills and coolness under pressure shaping as an asset for Melbourne as it looks to move the ball with more purpose in 2015.
Jones said the team was developing a better understanding of how to move the ball and what was required from each player, whether they had the ball or not, when Melbourne was in possession.
"What we have worked on his a real system and a bit of a pattern," Jones said.
