SECOND-year Demon Viv Michie says he’s confident he can lock down a spot in Melbourne’s midfield brigade in 2015.

A broken jaw disrupted Michie’s 2014 season, with the midfielder sidelined for a month before working his way back into the senior team for the final four games of the year.

But with a strong pre-season at his back, Michie said he was in prime position to build on his seven AFL games to date.

“I’m looking forward to the year ahead – I’m injury-free at the moment and haven’t really missed any training so I’m a lot fitter than I was coming into this year as opposed to last year,” Michie told melbournefc.com.au.

“[I was] playing a few games at the end of last year, so I really hope to build on that and play more footy and hopefully just keep out on the track for all of pre-season.

“That’ll be the main thing – just staying fit and learning off the coaches and playing how they want me to play.”

After recruits Dom Tyson and Bernie Vince secured top-three best and fairest placings in 2014, Melbourne’s midfield group has again been bolstered with the additions of Heritier Lumumba and Ben Newton.

But Michie, who crossed to Melbourne at the end of 2013 after three years at Fremantle, said he believed he had the qualities to compete for – and cement – a spot in the midfield makeup.

“There’s obviously a lot of competition in there but I’m pretty confident that I’m good enough to be part of it,” Michie said.

“So long as I play the way the coaches want me to play and stay fit, hopefully that’ll hold me in good stead.”

Speaking from Melbourne’s pre-season camp in Maroochydore, Michie said the time away had given the playing group the chance to bond and form stronger relationships off the field.

“It’s been fun – pretty tiring and hard work but it’s been good to get away with everyone and get to know the boys on a different level [through] living together,” Michie said.

“Living with three other guys, cooking meals together and just hanging out, getting to and from training in buses and things like that has been good.

“Just spending some quality time with everyone’s definitely good and hopefully it’ll help us when we’re out on the track and playing games, just having better relationships.”