MELBOURNE’S High Performance Manager Selwyn Griffith has provided an update on the health of the club’s AFL playing list as they progress through the 2024 pre-season schedule.

During the club’s 2023 Football Forum on Tuesday night, Griffith highlighted the early but impressive work of the new faces at the club.

“Pleasingly, the three new recruits are all full training at the moment,” Griffith said.

“Shane (McAdam), Tom (Fullarton) and Jack (Billings) actually came to training prior to when they were required.

“And our draftees (Caleb Windsor, Koltyn Tholstrup, Kynan Brown) have all integrated into a modified training program, which is what we do with all our first-year draftees and pleasingly, they’re all going really well.”

Griffith went on to provide further information on the players who are currently in the club’s rehab group, with a number of Demons set to reintegrate into main training.

After missing the end of Melbourne’s finals campaign due to a serious concussion sustained in the club’s qualifying final, much-loved Demon Angus Brayshaw has returned to training on a modified program.

“He’s integrated back into skills with the group,” Griffith said.

“We’re continuing to work with Angus on gradually integrating him into his contact progression to have him ready for the season.”

Bayley Fritsch has also reintegrated back into training following a 2023 that saw him face a number of foot issues.

“He's integrated back into training this week and he’ll be back to full training after the Christmas period,” Griffith said.

Keen onlookers at Melbourne’s trainings will have noticed that Clayton Oliver is training within the club’s rehab group, with the midfielder having undergone minor knee surgery in the off-season.

“Clayton had a knee arthroscope at the end of the season,” Griffith said.

“He’s returned back into some skill work and the Christmas period will be a really important block to allow him to reintegrate back into the squad after the break.”

Harrison Petty will also be on a modified training schedule for the remainder of 2023 after the Demon sustained a Lisfranc injury during the club’s Round 21 win over North Melbourne.

“He had his first run on the Alter-G (anti-gravity treadmill) after that Lisfranc injury and it was a real success,” Griffith said.

“So, he’ll be building his volumes into training with the group post-Christmas.”

The final Demon to remain in the team’s rehab group is fan-favourite Jake Melksham, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury during Melbourne’s Round 24 match against Sydney.

“He’s going really well after his ACL surgery,” Griffith said.

“He’s attacked his rehab really well and we’ll look to integrate him back into training with the group following the Christmas period, towards the backend of January.”