YOUNG defenders Jayden Hunt and Josh Wagner have relished the opportunity to be part of an emerging backline in 2016.

The pair has developed into impressive players and loom as long-term prospects for the club.

“The backline is pretty young, it’s growing as a group and the more that we play together at a young age, the more games we can win in the future, and really build together,” Hunt told Melbourne TV.  

Hunt, whose first two seasons on Melbourne’s list were plagued by injury, predominantly by a back issue, has made 16 appearances entering round 21.

The 21-year-old said his 2016 season had panned out better than he expected.  

“Halfway through last year, I’d been on the list for nearly two years and hadn’t really done much, so I wasn’t too sure if I’d get that extra contract,” Hunt said.  

“Luckily, and I’m thankful to the club that they showed a bit of faith in me –hopefully I’m repaying them a bit.”

Wagner has played 14 matches so far this year, after being drafted from Aspley at No.6 in the last year’s NAB AFL Rookie Draft.  

The 22-year-old, who was a “tradie on the tools” before he joined Melbourne, said it was “good to call footy a full-time job”.

“I didn’t really expect much at the start of the year, but to run out on the ‘G and win some games for the Dees [has been great],” Wagner told Melbourne TV.

“[I did doubt myself] a little bit coming in. I didn’t have that confidence, but once I got to know the boys and learned from the coaches we’ve got here, I slowly improved and got more confidence.

Wagner said fellow backman Neville Jetta had taken him under his wing, but added that the backline group was “pretty close”.