MELBOURNE’S overall stability with its 22 this year has been an underrated, yet critical component of its significant improvement in 2014.

It was yet another reason for its thrilling one-point win over Essendon at the MCG on Sunday night.

No question, it’s been part of coach Paul Roos’ philosophy. It was a legacy of his 2005 premiership side, with few or little changes made in the backend of its season, on the way to its Grand Final success.

Now at the helm of the Demons, Roos has ensured that games aren’t simply handed out – and they are earned via sheer hard work and highly consistent performances at Casey.

A relatively healthy list – compared to some recent seasons for the Demons and in relation to several other clubs in 2014 – has also been another key ingredient.

Melbourne has managed to retain a reasonably healthy list and play 33 players in 2014 – a good result when comparing to the rest of the competition. It’s not surprising to see that fewer players exposed in one particular season more often than not equals success.

For example, the Sydney Swans have used the fewest players in the AFL this year and not surprisingly they are third on the ladder. The Swans have used just 28 players.

For the record, next is the vastly improved Gold Coast, which has used just 30 players; Collingwood and Fremantle (31); North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and West Coast Eagles (32); Essendon, Geelong and Melbourne (33); Adelaide, Carlton and Hawthorn (34); Brisbane Lions and Richmond (35); Western Bulldogs (36) and St Kilda (38).

So far, Melbourne has also had 16 players feature in 10 matches or more this year – meaning a strong core base has been prominent each round.

But certainly the weight of strong form at VFL level has been a pivotal imprint this year, meaning players must earn their stripes. From there, it can only increase their chances of success in the AFL.

The ones who have earned their spot in the Melbourne line-up have also been given an opportunity to make their mark – and become consistent AFL players.

Invariably, most have capitalised this year, but several others have also been backed in to make their mark and it’s paid handsome dividends, with the likes of  mature-age quartet Lynden Dunn (could he be All-Australian this year?), Cam Pedersen, Neville Jetta and Rohan Bail stepping up significantly to take their games to new levels relative to their careers.  

On the weekend, the return of two players in particular was telling: Jordie McKenzie and Dean Kent.

McKenzie has been a regular for the past few years, but a combination of a foot injury and time in the VFL had only produced two matches this year, before the clash against the Bombers.

For the second-year Kent, it was also just his third match of the season, after a calf injury and a VFL suspension had interrupted his 2014.  

But the duo had worked hard in the VFL to earn their recall. McKenzie had been on the cusp for the past three matches, as an emergency, before he played his 72^nd AFL match.

And the rewards shown by those two in particular were telling.

McKenzie managed to keep key Essendon playmaker Brent Stanton to 13 disposals and net 13 touches himself. But it was McKenzie’s ability to stymie the midfielder, which was critical in the result – and something that was not lost on Roos.

“We brought him in. They’ve (Essendon) got a lot of really good midfielders and we’ve been using Crossy (Daniel Cross) a bit in that role and Nathan Jones a bit in that role, but we thought Jordie had been in fantastic form [in the VFL],” the coach said.

“We wanted to reward guys playing in the seconds, who were playing well and he did a terrific job on Stanton.”

As for Kent’s return in just his 18^th AFL match, the powerful left-footer was massive in the second half, booting two goals, including one that Roos nominated as the finest goal he had seen in 2014, after the Western Australian took three bounces before slotting through a gem on the run.

“I thought Kenty’s goal was exceptional. It was the best goal I’ve seen all year. For him to be able to do that after just getting in for his first game – after he played a few games earlier in the year, before getting injured [was great],” he said.

“For him to have the composure to do that late in the game – that was an exceptional goal.

“I thought after the second bounce, he looked like he was going to give it off, and then he realised he had a little bit of petrol and the guy chasing him wasn’t getting much closer, so that was an exceptional goal.”

The duo’s inclusion was also an exceptional decision at match committee and one that reaped plenty for the team and for the individuals.