WITH the New Year here, melbournefc.com.au takes a look at each player’s key stats entering 2016, as coach Paul Roos provides a pre-season update on every squad member. Be sure to check back each day on melbournefc.com.au, as we present all 45 players in the first half of January …

NATHAN JONES – No.2

Date of birth: 20/01/1988 (27 years old)
Height: 180cm, Weight: 88kg
AFL debut: 2006
AFL games: 201, AFL goals: 95
Position: Midfielder
Recruited: Mt Eliza (Vic)/Dandenong Stingrays (Vic)
Drafted: 2005 NAB AFL Draft (No.12)
Honours: Co-captain 2014, Captain 2015-16; Best and fairest 2012, 2013, 2014; Second Best and Fairest 2007; NAB AFL Rising Star Nominee 2006, 2007

“Nathan probably worried a bit about himself and how he’d go with not training, due to his neck injury, but by his own admission, it was probably the best thing that happened to him. He has really worked on his running – not that it is a weakness, but he knows he’s got to work on it. He got back into training pre-Christmas and has been jumping out of his skin since. His captaincy has gone to another level again, which is terrific.” – Paul Roos

BEN KENNEDY – No.35

Date of birth: 3/3/1994 (21 years old)
Height: 175cm, Weight: 76kg
AFL debut: 2013, MFC debut: yet to debut
AFL games: 25 (Collingwood 25, Melbourne 0), AFL goals: 15 (Collingwood 15, Melbourne 0)
Position: Midfielder
Recruited: Brighton District (SA)/Glenelg (SA)/Collingwood
Drafted: 2012 NAB AFL Draft (No.19)/2015 NAB AFL Draft traded by Collingwood for Jeremy Howe and Jimmy Toumpas

“Coming from another club, Ben knows what footy is all about. He knows what he has to do and he has an AFL body. He’s a really determined kid and he leaves no stone unturned. He’s exploring a lot of things and he’s embracing everything about the footy club and we just love having him around.” – Paul Roos

JAY KENNEDY-HARRIS – No.24

Date of birth: 21/3/1995 (20 years old)
Height: 173cm, Weight: 74kg
AFL debut: 2014
AFL games: 22 AFL goals: 11
Position: Small forward/midfielder
Recruited: Kew Comets (Vic)/Oakleigh Chargers (Vic)
Drafted: 2013 NAB AFL Draft (No.40)

“Jay has been good. He came back pretty fit and he hasn’t missed many sessions. He’s really worked hard on his game plan and the weaknesses that he has. He’s really started to become a student of the game, which is only going to help him.” – Paul Roos