In the words of backline coach Troy Chaplin, former rookie Josh Wagner has been the Demons' "most consistent" defender over the first five matches of the season. Wagner's ability to play on both tall and small players makes him a versatile option for coach Simon Goodwin. Wagner has the speed and agility to match it with the goalsneaks while, at 189cm, he can also match it with some of the competition's heavyweights and hold his own in marking contests. With the Demons committed to playing a high and aggressive defensive press, Melbourne's coaching staff are fans of having a player like Wagner who can read the ball and position himself accordingly. As Chaplin puts it, Wagner is a player who does not get the plaudits he sometimes deserves: "A lot of people probably don’t realise what he does, because it doesn't always come down to stats. The way we want to play and the system – he hasn't let us down at all."