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 …
ANGUS BRAYSHAW – No.10
Date of birth: 9/1/1996 (19 years old)
Height: 187cm, Weight: 88kg
AFL debut: 2015
AFL games: 21, AFL goals: 5
Position: Midfielder
Recruited: Hampton Rovers (VIC)/Sandringham Dragons (VIC)
Drafted: 2014 NAB AFL Draft (No.3)
Honours: NAB AFL Rising Star Nominee 2015 (fifth overall)
“Angus is in his second year and it’s a big thing for second year players to keep going with their training. He had a slight hiccup with his hip, just before Christmas. But the thing we’re really pushing with Angus, like all second year players, is to keep up their training habits. We think if they train really well and do things well, then they should have a good year. Angus has displayed good habits over the pre-season and is becoming a good role model, so we think he should have a good second year.” – Paul Roos
TOMAS BUGG – No.32
Date of birth: 5/4/1993 (22 years old)
Height: 184cm, Weight: 80kg
AFL debut: 2012, MFC debut: yet to debut
AFL games: 65 (GWS Giants 65, Melbourne 0), AFL goals: 16 (GWS Giants 16, Melbourne 0)
Position: Midfielder/defender
Recruited: Gembrook (Vic)/Caulfield Grammar (Vic)/Gippsland Power (Vic)/GWS Giants
Drafted: 2011 17-year-old access selection (GWS Giants); 2015 NAB AFL Draft traded by GWS Giants for No.7 (Jacob Hooper), Third round selection (not utilised), Fourth round selection (not utilised)
Honours: NAB AFL Rising Star nominee 2012
“Buggy knows what footy is all about. He’s entering his fifth AFL season, so he’s got an AFL body. He’s a very, very good runner and for Buggy, it’s about adapting to our game style. He’s a really good listener, so we expect him to make a good contribution to the footy club.” – Paul Roos
CHRIS DAWES – No.6
Date of birth: 16/05/1988 (27 years old)
Height: 193cm, Weight: 101kg
AFL debut: 2008, MFC debut: 2013
AFL games: 115 (Collingwood 71, Melbourne 44), AFL goals: 126 (Collingwood 83, Melbourne 43)
Position: Key forward
Recruited: Brighton Grammar (Vic)/Sandringham Dragons (Vic)/Collingwood
Drafted: 2006 NAB AFL Draft (No.28 – Collingwood); 2012 NAB AFL Draft traded by Collingwood for No.20 (Tim Broomhead) and No.47 (Mitch Wilkins)
Honours: Melbourne leading goalkicker 2014; Collingwood premiership side 2010; Collingwood pre-season premiership side 2011
“Dawesy started training really well, before he had a little bit of a hiccup with his calf. It’s just something we’ve got to manage with him, so hopefully we can get him as fit as we possibly can. When he’s fit, he’s a really important part of the team.” – Paul Roos
