Melbourne forward Ben Brown has edged closed to an AFL return as the ladder-leaders weigh up a selection move

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has so many playing options, but he’s putting cohesion above the need to get big names back in the side.

Kysaiah Pickett’s defensive work has been “off the charts”. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

Melbourne boasts one of the healthiest lists in the AFL, but the ladder-leading Demons won’t be getting “cute” with selection in the run to September, with coach Simon Goodwin declaring cohesion and connection remain his team’s ongoing goals.

Five goals from Ben Brown in the VFL last week has put the spearhead in the frame for a senior return and Goodwin said the key forward had also been “outstanding” in scrimmage work at training.

The Demons managed just nine goals in a gritty win against Essendon last week, playing without Brown or Sam Weideman in the forward line.

Goodwin, however, said he was “pretty comfortable” with where his team sits, and he wouldn’t be making changes for the sake of change.

“We certainly won’t be getting too cute as a footy club,” Goodwin said on Wednesday ahead of a Round 16 clash with GWS at the MCG.

“We value cohesion, we value connection, and we value winning. Will we be reckless with our players? No. We’ll continue to manage our players accordingly, but we won’t be tinkering with how much we play from a personnel and a method perspective.

“The pleasing thing about last week in the VFL, Ben Brown kicked five, Sam Weideman got himself back into some form, Nathan Jones was outstanding along with Aaron Vandenberg.

“We have options in terms of selection but that the same time we are happy with where we sit.”

An update on Ben Brown + Sam Weideman. 👊

Watch this week's episode of The Talking Points, as Greg Stafford discusses our forward line mix.

🎥: https://t.co/qtjHz6ZmCEpic.twitter.com/liALc2Clrh

— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) June 29, 2021

Five goals for Ben Brown in the VFL today, putting his name up for senior selection! pic.twitter.com/fyg4AtowCN

— Triple M Footy (@triplemfooty) June 27, 2021

Goodwin said Brown, who has played just three games this season after crossing to the Demons, was “holding up his end of the bargain” as he pushed for an AFL return.

“Yeah, he kicked five in the VFL but his training form and some of his match scrimmage stuff has been outstanding,” he said.

“He’s putting together a big block of form which puts him right in the calculations for selection.

“That’s what we wanted from Ben, to get him body-healthy, get him fit, get him really confident in the way he’s playing. We’re still working through what that best mix looks like. He’s holding up his end of the bargain.”

Goodwin also downplayed any suggestions livewire forward Kysaiah Pickett had hit a flat spot in his second season after back-to-back weeks without a goal.

He said while Pickett, who has kicked 20 goals in 2021, hadn’t hit the scoreboard, his defensive work was “off the charts”.

“Inside the football club you get to see a lot more than what you see from an output perspective,” Goodwin said.

“Kozzie has had an outstanding offensive output at times. In the last few weeks that has dropped away.

“But what has remained the same, his running defensively, his work rate is off the charts. He’s providing a lot of good stuff for us without that ball that a lot of people don’t see or recognise.

“We’re really comfortable with where Kozzie’s game is at. It’s only a matter of time before he starts hitting the scoreboard again.”

Originally published as Melbourne forward Ben Brown has edged closed to an AFL return as the ladder-leaders weigh up a selection move