MELBOURNE coach Simon Goodwin provides an update on all 44 players in the lead-up to the 2018 season. Be sure to check back each day for much of January, as we present this year’s squad …

Bernie Vince
Bernie has had an incredible summer and hasn’t missed a session. He’s done everything right over the pre-season. Bernie continues to look like he’s improving as a player – even at training – and his standards have again been high. I’m really excited by what Bernie can deliver for us in 2018, in what will be his 13th AFL season – and his fifth at Melbourne.

Jack Viney
Jack has been coming back from a foot injury, which interrupted the backend of his 2017 season and forced him to miss four of the final eight home and away rounds. We’ve taken our time with him, and we’ll continue to be cautious. We’ll build his loads throughout January and look to really ramp up his workload in February and March.  

Josh Wagner
Josh came back strongly this pre-season after an indifferent 2017 with injury, suffering a fractured fibula and a broken thumb early in the year. He’s training with a lot of speed and intensity, and making every session count. Josh has been really impressive as he prepares for his third AFL season. His brother Corey, previously on North Melbourne’s list, has joined Casey in the VFL.

Sam Weideman
Sam has put on a lot of size and has physically developed in the gym this pre-season. He had post-season ankle surgery, but integrated back into the main group in January. Sam’s had a really good summer, building his body and the right habits around competing at AFL level, and we’re looking forward to watching him develop further in 2018.