The man many consider to be Melbourne's most important player and its captain-in-waiting - star midfielder Brock McLean - has declared himself fit and raring to go for season 2009.
In a major boost to last year's wooden spooners McLean has played in all of the Demons' pre-season practice matches to date and provided he comes through unscathed in the club's final hit-out against the Bulldogs on Saturday has declared himself a certain starter for Round 1.
The return of the inspirational McLean, one of the best ball winners in the AFL is a huge morale boost for the Demons after a serious ankle injury curtailed his season after Round 14 last year while a broken bone sustained in the opening game of the previous season also saw him miss seven matches.
"The body is feeling really good," McLean told Sportal.
"It's amazing what happens when you start playing games and the ankle is coming along really well and I couldn’t ask to be in better shape at the moment."
McLean says he feels like he is peaking just in time for the start of the home and away season after admitting to feeling rusty at the start of the pre-season after so long out of the game.
"I have played every game and I have had a fair bit of ground time," he said.
"Match fitness is the most important thing when you are coming into the season so I couldn't have asked for a better preparation and I am just looking forward to Round 1."
McLean, who still finished runner-up in the Demons' best and fairest last season despite missing the last third of the season, described 2008 as one of the toughest times in his career.
"It was obviously frustrating and one of worst things in footy is being injured and your side not going well and having to watch it from the stands," he said.
But McLean, who has just turned 23 and with 75 games behind him is coming into his peak years, is quietly confident his team - which won just three games last season - will improve this season.
Certainly the Demons' pre-season form has been encouraging with the team recording a win and two narrow defeats so far - a contrast to last year when the club lost all four pre-season games by an average of eight goals before losing its first two home and away matches by a total of 199 points in coach Dean Bailey's first year in charge.
And with only veteran forward Russell Robertson - who has just resumed full training following the serious achilles tendon injury he sustained in Round 11 last year - and ruckman Mark Jamar (foot) definitely ruled out of Round 1, the Demons have a far stronger list to pick from than the second half of last season when the club was decimated by injuries.
"You don't like to blame it (last year's slump) on one thing (injuries) but you need a bit of luck with injury," McLean said.
"Even Robbo is back in full training and I think he is probably three to four weeks away from playing his first game but we have got just about everyone else to pick from so to have 35-40 blokes to pick from for round one is obviously a big boost."