Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin adds another weapon to team’s quest for back-to-back premierships

The best teams see opportunity in the face of challenges and injuries to key Melbourne players has helped the AFL premiers get better.

Angus Brayshaw has become an ‘elite’ defender. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The impending return of two premiership defenders won’t sway Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin from moving Angus Brayshaw after his emergence as an a “elite” defender.

While James Harmes is set to miss up to three weeks with a hamstring injury, Michael Hibberd is on the verge of a return after battling calf issues and Christian Salem is inching closer to a comeback from knee surgery.

But the move of Brayshaw, whose selfless shift from the midfield to the wing was lauded as a key pillar of Melbourne’s 2021 premiership success, has blown Goodwin away and given the Demons a new weapon in their quest for back-to-back flags.

While Goodwin has steadfastly refused to rest players despite his team’s 9-0 start to 2022, even as they prepare to face battlers North Melbourne, he conceded the absence of players allowed him to develop new elements that would only make the Demons better.

“Any time you’ve got guys out it gives you opportunities to look at players in different roles and get some more information about your team,” Goodwin said on Wednesday.

“The information we‘ve got about Angus Brayshaw in this period is that he’s an elite half-back flanker and the way that he can impact the game is significant.

“With these guys coming back in it will tighten up the competition for spots.

Angus Brayshaw has starred across halfback for Melbourne. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“But one thing we know is that Angus is playing some great footy and we’re probably going to be hesitant to move him at this point.”

Salem is at least one week away from returning at any level after undergoing surgery in March to repair chipped cartilage in his knee, and Hibberd, who is yet to play a game this season, could return through the VFL as soon as next weekend after dual setbacks with his calf injury.

“Initially, it wasn’t too (bad) and then he restrained it for a second time, so we took a longer period to rehabilitate one of his calves,” Goodwin said.

“Then right as he was about to return to play VFL footy he got a little slight strain on his other calf.

“It has been a bit of an ongoing thing for the last 10 or 12 weeks, which has been disappointing for Michael because he has been really close a couple of times.

Michael Hibberd is close to a return. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“But it’s given us a little bit more time to put some real strength and fitness work into him.”

Having taken a full-strength outfit to Perth last weekend to tackle last-placed West Coast, Goodwin again said there would be no taking the foot off the pedal against the Kangaroos, who have won just a single game this season.

“We’ve got a great foundation but we are certainly not comfortable,” Goodwin said.

“We know we have challenges ahead of us … but we need to look at how we can get better and that’s what we are purely focused on.”