The two Demons that Champion Data believes can take the club’s midfield to a new level

Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne is a huge fan of Melbourne’s Trent Rivers.

The neat user has turned into a midfielder in his last three games for the Dees and is averaging 24.33 disposals across that period as well as 4.33 clearances.

It’s his ball use that has stood out most though, and Hoyne revealed that he’s been among the highest-ranked players in two of the three games where he’s played on-ball according to Champion Data’s rating system.

Hoyne also revealed that Rivers ranks fifth across the whole competition in hitting targets by foot and as a result he believes that the 22-year-old has a long-term position in the club’s midfield alongside the bullocking trio of Christian Petracca, Jack Viney and Clayton Oliver.

“Trent Rivers in three of his four years where he's played enough footy to qualify for an overall competition rating, he’s been a top 100 player in the competition,” Hoyne told SEN Sportsday.

“It is a fantastic achievement especially given that he's been an 18, 19 and 21-year-old in those three seasons.

“We just mentioned about Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and their concerns over a large period now to be able to connect going inside 50 with their ball use.

“His (Rivers’) ability to be able to hit a target all over the ground is the fifth-best of any player in the competition.

“In his first game as a midfielder, he was the second-highest rated player on the ground, then on the weekend, he was the fourth highest-rated player on the ground.

“Without being harsh, without Max Gawn now, the reality is Melbourne are going into their next two games without their two best players in their two most important games of the year. So, they’re up against it.

“But if I'm a Melbourne supporter, if I can finish this year's campaign knowing that we have finally found a midfielder with elite ball use to be able to complement what we have … heading into 2025 that’s a big tick.”

Another player that Hoyne envisages moving into the midfield is wingman Caleb Windsor who is ranking incredibly well in his first season in the competition.

“I just wonder whether or not this will be the only year that we see Caleb Windsor playing permanent wing time,” Windsor said.

“I don't know if he'll become a permanent centre bounce midfielder, but even just to become a little bit of what Errol Gulden is in terms of being a 50 to 60 per cent winger.

“He hasn't attended the centre bounce this year and he's 18. But I just wonder over the next six or seven weeks whether or not he could be thrown in there.

“His ability to be able to win the footy and his impact through his defensive actions are top 10 for his position in the competition, which is a fantastic achievement for an 18-year-old.”

10th-placed Melbourne’s next test comes against fourth-placed Essendon at the MCG on Saturday night.