WITH FIVE weeks left of the AFL home-and-away season, Simon Goodwin walked up to defender Judd McVee and had one simple question for him – “Can you play in the midfield?”  

While the change of position could present as an intimidating task, it wasn’t too daunting for the young Demon.  

The 21-year-old had actually spent much of his junior career playing as a midfielder, so it was an exciting opportunity in McVee’s eyes.  

“I used to play there, all the way up to U16s,” McVee told Melbourne Media.  

“I’m pretty proud of that midfield time and hopefully I can do a bit more midfield stuff next year.” 

When entering into midfield territory, McVee looked to a number of people to help him understand the role and what it took to perform.  

His first port of call was Andrew McQualter, Melbourne’s midfield coach, an individual who has become a valued member of the coaching staff since first joining at the end of 2023.  

McVee credits McQualter’s care and adaptable coaching style in allowing him to learn at his best. 

“[Mini’s] been great,” McVee said.  

“For him to understand how I learn and how I do things, it's been awesome. 

“He’s been really great to have by my side for the move.”  

Next up in his journey to the centre of the ground was guidance from his friend and teammate Trent Rivers, who had coincidently been on the same path in 2024.  

“Trent also comes to mind straightaway,” McVee said.   

“I'm actually very close with him and he's helped me since my first year, with all the backline stuff. 

“We have a strong relationship and then I also idolise Jack Viney and the way he goes about his week-to-week.   

“The way Jack plays and how he reads the ball and his midfield craft, it’s unreal, so I’ve been leaning on him and learning off him.” 

Not only did McVee look to his coaches and teammates for guidance, but he took the opportunities he had to learn from his opposition, some of which are among the top midfielders in the league.  

“Yeah, it's obviously a little bit daunting at the start [facing top midfielders],” McVee said.  

“I played on Nick Daicos and he’s probably one of the best players in the competition, so I took a lot out of that. 

“His footy smarts and his craft around the centre bounce, his positioning and how he uses his body, it’s incredible.”  

While the 21-year-old embraced this new position at the end of the season, it was still his role in the backline that truly shone in 2024.  

2023 saw the Demon go from zero games to 25, a quick ascension that was a whirlwind for him to digest. 

This season, he continued to improve and impress, playing all games and averaging nearly six intercepts per match.  

Across these two seasons, McVee went from first gamer nerves to enjoying his footy and looking towards becoming the best defender he could be.   

“I felt pretty good this year, I feel like I've grown as a player,” McVee said.  

“To back up my year last year with just a bit more offence and trying to get the ball a bit more, better that run and drive off half back.  

“This came with a little bit more confidence, that confidence to not be too worried about if I'm going to get dropped or not, just have a bit of fun with it.  

“That's when I'm playing my best footy, when I’m just enjoying it.” 

Outside footy, McVee still keeps a close connection to the club, his two housemates being Daniel Turner and Taj Woewodin.  

Turner, Woewodin and McVee have lived together since first joining the Dees, riding the highs and lows of the past three years together.  

“We come to trainings together all the time and we just try to be as professional as we can,” McVee said.  

“We lean on each other for advice.”  

With Melbourne’s 2024 AFL season finished, McVee will join his teammates in taking a step back from footy before focusing in on the goals of 2025.  

“I think for me now, I'll try switch off for a bit and then get back into training,” McVee said  

“Hopefully I’ll be training a bit more with the mids and just try to take my game to the next level.”