Melton is in a strong position to make a splash this Ballarat Football League off-season.
Bloods coach Brad Murphy confirms his club has the funds, and room under the upcoming player points cap, to be able to sign a number of new additions.
Melton played most of the 2015 season with a team that would have averaged 30 points under the proposed new system, which comes into force in 2016.
And with the cap expected to be 45 points, that would allow the Bloods 15 points for new recruits.
Murphy said negotiations with possible players had already started.
“We’re looking at a few options,” he said. “The AFL experience can be important but [such players] also come with six points hanging over their head.
“We’re more looking at a couple of VFL guys and a couple of other really good locals.” With Melton having one of the youngest sides in the competition in the 2015 season, the Bloods are adamant they are looking for a certain type of recruit.
The club wants players who can assist with on-field leadership and have the experience to help Melton’s young players make the jump from promising juniors to regular senior footballers.
The lack of experience was highlighted this season with the Bloods dropping away after a positive start to fall out of finals contention by the middle of the year.
But at its best the club could match it with some of the quality sides in the BFL. It lost to Bacchus Marsh by a point and pushed finals side East Point to the brink of defeat late in the season.
While the senior team failed to live up to expectations, it was a great year for the club’s reserves and under-18s.
Both qualified for grand finals before coming up short against Redan and East Point respectively.
From those sides, Murphy expects between six and eight players to be regular senior players next season.
Meanwhile, after stepping down as head coach during the year but then changing his mind and re-signing with the Bloods two weeks later, Murphy says he’s now keen to stay at the club for as long as possible.
“I think it will be my last year playing,” he said.
“I want to coach the club for as long as possible.
“I also have the desire to coach at TAC Cup or VFL level, but at the moment I’m very happy.”
