Melbourne coach Mark Neeld admits it is a relief his AFL club is likely to go to this month’s national draft with a full set of picks despite the ongoing tanking investigation.
It is expected the AFL won’t conclude its probe into allegations Melbourne deliberately lost matches in late 2009 until after the November 22 draft.
That means the Demons should head to at least this year’s draft without penalty, where they hold the No.4 pick and will take father-son selection Jack Viney with pick No.27.
Neeld is hoping to use the draft to further boost a list cleaned out and topped up with a busy trade and free agency period.
“Absolutely it is,” Neeld said on Wednesday when asked if it was a relief the club was likely to keep its 2012 draft picks.
“We’re looking forward to the draft.
“We had a look at free agency, did some trading, and we have a few picks coming up and we want to use them as best we can.”
The Dees were active from start to stumps during the elongated trade and free agency period, moving as late as Tuesday to snare delisted Geelong defender Tom Gillies.
Long-serving utility Clint Bartram announced his retirement on Wednesday because of a degenerative knee complaint, bringing to 15 the number of Melbourne players from last season who have departed.
Ex-Collingwood forward Chris Dawes, Geelong premiership player Shannon Byrnes and former Richmond and Port Adelaide dynamo David Rodan head the replacements.
Neeld said list turnover would become the norm in future years with the introduction of free agency, and the club was moving in the right direction with its recruitment.
“We were really keen throughout that trade and free agency period to look at all three avenues (including the draft) to improve our list,” Neeld said.
“We did as good a job as we possibly could. We were really pleased with the way that month unfolded.”