Mitch Brown joins Melbourne, Jacob Townsend and Harley Bennell looking for AFL lifeline

Mitch Brown will revive his AFL career at Melbourne but the former Essendon forward says he’s not there to be a depth player. Other delisted players are searching for new homes as clubs look to fill vacant list spots.

New Melbourne forward Mitch Brown has set his sights on a Round 1 debut with Melbourne, saying he is not there to play VFL next season.

The Demons on Tuesday officially rookie-listed the dumped Bomber to bolster the club’s forward options next season.

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Brown slotted 21 goals in 16 games at Essendon this year which would have been the equal second-most at Melbourne behind leading goal kicker Christian Petracca.

Brown, who played 70 games at Geelong and Essendon, said he was thrilled to receive the career lifeline from Melbourne and was determined to make an impact in the AFL team.

“I’m not here to be depth I guess, I’m here to play senior football,” Brown said.

“So hopefully I can do that.”

Mitch Brown played 55 games for the Bombers across four seasons. Picture: Mark Stewart

The 29-year-old started training with the Demons alongside former Docker Harley Bennell, who is also working out in hope of securing a spot on the list under the supplemental selection period rules.

Melbourne has until March to make a call on Bennell, hopeful recent surgery has fixed his calf issue.

The pair will train with the rest of the Melbourne playing group at Gosch’s Paddock this morning.

Brown said he also felt like he had plenty to prove after getting axed from Essendon.

“I’m so hungry, to be honest,” Brown said.

“I feel like I haven’t achieved what I want to achieve in my career.

“At 29 I still feel like I have a few years left, so it is exciting.”

Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said Brown was a nice fit for the Demons, who had one of the worst forward line retention rates in the league last season.

No.3 draft pick Luke Jackson and No.12 pick Kysaiah Pickett are also expected to push for selection early next season.

Harley Bennell is hoping for another chance with the Demons. Picture: Getty Images

“We are pleased to officially welcome Mitch to Melbourne through the SSP and have him join us as a rookie for this season,” Mahoney said.

“Mitch has shown great resilience throughout his career, and is a skilful, versatile player who has proven he is capable of having an impact at AFL level.

“We feel his experience at both ends of the ground and his elite endurance will make him a great addition to our list.

“We are confident Mitch will transition smoothly into our football program.”

Collingwood and Hawthorn also have spots available to fill on their lists, with Lynden Dunn and Darren Minchington frontrunners to fill the vacant positions.

The Bombers are expected to rookie-list Tigers’ premiership tough nut Jacob Townsend as part of plans to bolster their midfield set up for next season.

Essendon was belted in contested possession in the second half of last season, ranking 18th in this area from Round 15 onwards according to Champion Data.

The Bombers averaged 17 contested possessions a game less than their opponent during this stretch, well behind 17th-ranked Sydney Swans (-10 a game).

But it is hoped Townsend can play an important defensive midfield role at Tullamarine and help boost the Bombers’ in the clinches.

Essendon also rookie-listed former Kangaroo Mitchell Hibberd last week after an excellent season as an inside midfielder at Williamstown in the VFL.

Essendon is looking at Jacob Townsend to add grunt to its midfield. Picture: Michael Klein

Townsend, 26, will rejoin forces with Essendon senior coach-in-waiting Ben Rutten after playing under the former Richmond assistant at Tigerland.

Importantly, Townsend and Hibberd can take some of the load off and help release star playmakers Dylan Shiel, Zach Merrett, Andrew McGrath and captain Dyson Heppell who is coming off surgery to help fix a serious foot problem.

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Townsend was used largely as a pressure forward in his four years at Richmond, slotting 28 goals over 20 games in four seasons there.

But his talks with the Bombers have revolved around a chance to return to the engine room after starting his career under Essendon legend Kevin Sheedy at Greater Western Sydney in 2012.

Essendon’s forward line is already stacked with gun mid-sized goal kickers including Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Orazio Fantasia, Jake Stringer and best-and-fairest winner Devon Smith.

Townsend, a 187cm ballwinner, kicked two goals in Richmond’s 2017 Grand Final victory over Adelaide but has played only 11 games since then, including one last year as Richmond stormed to another flag.

Clubs have until March to formally add players as part of the supplemental selection period rules.

Adelaide, West Coast and Greater Western Sydney also all have list spots open for next year.

The Giants have no plans to add another player over summer and could keep the spot open for the 2020 mid-season draft.

The Eagles are strongly considering former Giant and Carlton livewire Jarrod Pickett. West Coast coach Adam Simpson said Pickett would likely train with the club over summer.

“We haven’t decided on that yet, the next 24 hours we will make a decision, but there is a spot there available,” Simpson said.

“We might get two or three guys to train with us through the pre-season period, and we are working through who trains with us.”

Originally published as Mitch Brown joins Melbourne, Jacob Townsend and Harley Bennell looking for AFL lifeline