MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 01: James Harmes of the Demons leads the group in running during a Melbourne Demons AFL training session at Gosch's Paddock on December 1, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

New faces: Jake Lever is the sole fresh face in the Demons' best 22 after being acquired from Adelaide.

The 21-year-old key defender is an intercept marking machine and has already established himself as one of the premium backmen in the AFL.

On the fringe: Melbourne's depth looks impressive on paper, with the likes of Tom Bugg, Sam Frost, Dean Kent and Jake Melksham unable to crack the 22.

Key forward Sam Weideman could challenge Cam Pederson for a spot in the side as Jesse Hogan's partner in crime, coming into his third year in the system.

First picked: Max Gawn

Last picked: Angus Brayshaw

Best 22

B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Oscar McDonald
HB: Michael Hibberd, Jake Lever, Jayden Hunt
C: Nathan Jones, Clayton Oliver, Bernie Vince
HF: Christian Petracca, Cam Pederson, Alex Neal-Bullen
F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, James Harmes
FOL: Max Gawn, Dom Tyson, Jack Viney
I/C: Christian Salem, Angus Brayshaw, Jordan Lewis, Mitch Hannan