OVER the next few days, we'll be recapping the seasons of every Melbourne listed player in 2018.
Today, we'll be reviewing the seasons of the players numbered 11 through to 15.
#11 – Max Gawn
Games played: 25
The ruckman had a remarkable season for the red and blue, rewarded with several individual accolades.
Gawn’s ruck dominance and strong influence around the ground earned him the AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player of the Year Award, as well as selection in the All-Australian side.
The 26-year-old was also judged the Demons’ best and fairest player, taking home the Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy.
Averaging 44.8 hit outs a game, Gawn surpassed North Melbourne’s Todd Goldstein (1,058) to become the league’s record holder for the most hit outs in a season (1,119). His highest tally of 2018 was against Hawthorn in round four and Adelaide in round 19, when he finished with 66 hit outs.
#12 – Dom Tyson
Games played: 17
The 25-year-old found his form in the senior side in 2018, working his way back in after a mid-year hiatus.
Tyson embraced a new role on the wing – the result of a jampacked Melbourne midfield – and averaged 20.8 disposals in the back half of the home-and-away season. His best game with in his side’s round 21 loss to Sydney, where he collected 31 disposals.
Despite suffering a fractured forearm in the Demons’ round 23 win over GWS, Tyson managed to declare himself fit and feature throughout Melbourne’s finals campaign.
#13 – Clayton Oliver
Games played: 25
It was another stellar season for the 21-year-old, which saw him finish second in Melbourne’s best and fairest count.
A ball magnet, Oliver collected 734 disposals in 2018, with an average of 29.4 touches a game. He was also ranked number one in the league for contested possessions (405).
Perhaps the most exciting element of the midfielder’s game was his burst of energy through the middle, combining with Gawn to tally 162 clearances.
Round 19 against Adelaide was when he did most of this work, registering 14 clearances to go with his 31 disposals. His highest possession-get came the week before against Geelong, where he collected 40 touches.
#14 Michael Hibberd
Games played: 21
The defender missed four matches in 2018, after a quadriceps injury sidelined him from rounds 18 to 21.
Following his return in round 22, Hibberd provided the Demons with stability and structure, as they headed into their first finals appearance in 12 years.
Playing more of a team role throughout the season, the 26-year-old tallied 87 rebound 50s off half-back – he was second to Christian Salem – and held a disposal efficiency of 73%.
His best two games came early in the year, when he registered 10 rebound 50s against Essendon in round 6, and 28 disposals against St Kilda the following week.
#15 – Billy Stretch
Games played: 2
Stretch featured minimally in 2018, with form and injury limiting him to just two matches.
His round 16 performance against Fremantle was the standout, where he collected 24 disposals and four tackles in Melbourne’s 54-point win.
Suffering a stress fracture in his small toe soon after, the 21-year-old missed the remainder of the season.
Prior to his injury, Stretch had some outstanding performances in the VFL for Casey Demons.
