DESPITE just eight matches under his belt, mature-age rookie Mitch Clisby already has his sights on becoming an official leader with the club.

The 23-year-old said despite the fact of his limited experience in the AFL, being a mature-age player gave him a chance to advance into the club’s leadership group quickly.  

“Definitely, I can see myself as a leader, hopefully, one day,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“Hopefully the coaches and the current leadership group see that as well.

“I’ve got a lot of things to work on, but I think the longer I’m here, the better I’ll get at these things and maybe one day I’ll be in the leadership group and can carry on from some of the other guys that have done it in the past.”

Clisby made his AFL debut in round 13 against St Kilda this year – Neil Craig’s first as Melbourne coach – and played every match, until he was suspended for the final three matches of the season.  

He impressed with his work from defence and was hopeful of cementing a position in the starting 22 next year.

“We do have a talented list and I have to keep improving to hold my spot in the 22. Hopefully that’s round one next year, but I want to take my game to another level to hold that spot,” he said.

“I’d like to think I’m in the best 22 and can hopefully build on my career. I feel comfortable playing there and I feel like I can bring something to the team by playing there.”

“If there is a next step, it’d be playing wing and midfield, so I’ve got a lot of things to work on to get into that group. I’d like to think I could play that role, so that’s another option. At the moment, we’re all comfortable where I am.”

Clisby said he had relished his move from Broken Hill to Adelaide and now Melbourne, where he has embraced the Demons and is eager to help the club rise.

“I’ve only been here since [last] December and already I’ve made mates for life,” he said.