WE TAKE a final look back at 2018, with Josh Wagner, Joel Smith, Declan Keilty and Lochie Filopovic the next players to be reviewed. 

Take a look back at our previous season reviews here: No. 1 to No. 5 | No. 6 to No. 10 | No. 11 to No. 15 | No. 15 to No. 20 | No. 21 to No. 25 | No. 26 to No. 30 | No. 31 to No. 35 | No. 36 to No. 40

#42 – Josh Wagner

Games played: 5

The rebounding defender/winger played in the first five rounds of 2018, before playing out the season in the VFL.

At AFL level he was a tidy contributor, averaging 12.6 disposals and 4.6 tackles per game.

For Casey, he averaged 20.1 disposals and an impressive 5.7 tackles per game.

Wagner was re-signed by the Club until the end of 2019 during the season.

#44 – Joel Smith

Games played: 8

The tall defender showed signs he can be a future part of Melbourne’s defensive makeup, playing eight games in the back-half of the season.

Smith played all but one game from round 12 until round 20, before suffering a broken collarbone against the Suns.

He returned to the fold for the preliminary final, with Melbourne opting to stick with Smith’s height against West Coast’s destructive tall forwards.

Smith’s game of the season was against Collingwood on Queen’s Birthday, when he recorded 16 touches, six tackles and four rebound 50s.

#45 – Declan Keilty

Games played: 0

Keilty displayed some good form for Casey in 2018 and was arguably very close to making an AFL debut in 2018.

But a fantastic defensive performance on the big stage in the 2018 VFL Grand Final may see him come close to a debut in 2019.

The tall defender’s bets game of the season for Casey came in August against Sandringham when he recorded 21 disposals and eight marks.

#47 – Lochie Filopovic

Games played: 0

The 20-year-old rookie ruckman couldn’t break into Melbourne’s side and was delisted at the end of the season.

Filopovic played 15 matches in the VFL for Casey, averaging 9.9 hit outs per game.