MELBOURNE national recruiting manager Barry Prendergast says the club is already confident its class of 2008 will produce the goods in the long run – just six months after adding 10 players to its list.
 
The Demons have taken a long-term view with its recruits, however, Western Australians Jamie Bennell (No.35 in the NAB AFL Draft) and Neville Jetta (No.51) have already played 12 matches between them after eight rounds.

"We're very pleased with what we've drafted," Prendergast told melbournefc.com.au.

"We've brought a lot of players into the footy club and we're really pleased with them as a group – they're developing and they are quality people. The talent is good and we think what they bring to the group is good as well.

"Everybody knows we're taking a development path at Melbourne and the coaching staff and everyone else should be applauded for sticking strong to that and looking to a long-term plan. That's what we've got to be about and it's the only way we can go with that." 

Aside from Bennell and Jetta, the club has top 20 picks Jack Watts (No.1), Sam Blease (No.17) and James Strauss (No.19) waiting in the wings.

Year 12 student Watts has tasted VFL senior football for Casey Scorpions, although fellow 18-year-old Blease unfortunately broke his leg at school. Strauss has also had some injury hiccups.

Mature-age recruit Rohan Bail has shown promise at Casey and Liam Jurrah is settling in after hailing from remote Yuendumu, Central Australia.

"We've taken a patient stand on Jack and Sam, in terms of them doing their VCE. It's obviously disappointing Sam injured himself, but we'll just deal with that and move on. He's still got a lot of time on his side," Prendergast said.

"Jack and Sam have both put on good size, James Strauss has had some interruptions, in terms of injury and he's had to get over them, but we're really pleased with the approach of those three boys.

"We're really pleased with Bennell and Jetta, with both boys playing the first five games.

"Rohan Bail has come on really well and Liam has played a couple of [VFL] games and is really working hard to acclimatise with life in the AFL. It's thumbs up to that in respects."

Prendergast said rookies Jordie McKenzie, Rhys Healey and Daniel Hughes were also making good strides with Casey.

"McKenzie and Healey are the rookies we've picked up and Danny Hughes has come back playing senior footy in the VFL [after a season out injured]," he said.