Maybe there is life left in the old dog yet.

At least that was the impression given from Nathan 'Doggie' Brown, who was among Melbourne's best against Hawthorn at Telstra Dome on Sunday.

Although Hawthorn ran out 24-point winners, inspired by four final-term goals from Lance Franklin, the performance of Brown was one of the bright spots from Melbourne's NAB Cup exit.

Brown finished with 29 disposals – the equal highest total for the match, along with teammate Cameron Bruce – as he regularly rebounded from defence and sent the ball inside 50.

It was an encouraging display, given the 30-year-old's 2006 season was far from spot-on. The 127-game utility managed just nine appearances last year, as hamstring problems (not for the first time) and indifferent form interrupted his season.

But his effort in the semi-final against Fremantle last September was proof that he still has a role at this level. Now that Brown has completed his first injury-free pre-season at the club since being drafted at No 66 in the 1997, he has renewed confidence in his ability.

"I had an ordinary year last year. When that happens, you've just got to get back on the bike and start peddling," Brown told melbournefc.com.au after Sunday’s loss. "I'm really fit and, for the first time in my whole career, I've done a full pre-season, so that's a good thing. All I can do is get fit, get out there and have a go. That's all I'm doing."

Brown credited the club's revamped fitness staff, headed by physical preparation manager Bohdan Babijczuk, as a key to getting through pre-season unscathed.

"Bohdan has looked after me really well. I've got a really good relationship one-on-one with him and (rehabilitation and sports science manager) Brentan Parsons and (player energy and wellness manager) Adam Paulo, so I've been doing a lot of work with them off the track as well," Brown said.

Although a small, running defender for most of his career, Brown has reverted to being an old-fashioned utility, capable of performing several roles.

"I'll play bits and pieces. I can play forward, back, wing and (can perform) run-withs and come off the bench – a whole range of roles. Whatever role helps the team, I'll come in," Brown said.

"I'm a really good runner, so the game suits me, which is a good thing and that's the way the game's going.

"I'm just enjoying everything and I'm closer to this side of finishing than starting, so I'm just trying to enjoy everything."