JOSH Wagner enters 2018 with 23 games to his name.

Now in his third AFL season, the former rookie-list player, had a tougher second year, after he managed 14 appearances, when he made his debut in 2016.

However, a fracture fibula and a broken thumb interrupted the start of his 2017 season and in the wash-up, he finished with nine matches to his name.

But a strong pre-season has brought with him renewed confidence and the promising half-back/winger looms as a player to keep an eye on this year.  

“I’m pretty happy with my pre-season so far. I haven’t missed a session, so if I can keep doing that, I’ll be pretty happy,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“I’ve put last season behind me and I’ve come back fresh. I just wanted to tick off every session this pre-season and hopefully it helps me going into the season and the JLT [Community Series] games.

“I just want to play a few more games and now that I’ve got this fitness base under me, I just want to help the boys play finals.”

Speaking on day three of Melbourne’s pre-season camp on the Sunshine Coast, the Queenslander said he had relished being back in his native conditions.

“It’s a little bit hard to [acclimatise] back in this weather, but I love the heat much more than the cold,” he said.

“It’s always good to get up here, particularly as my parents live up here.

“And I love the heat.”