"It all seemed a bit pointless" says star Demon

Melbourne star Michael Hibberd believes shying away from training last year has been responsible for his blistering season.

After crossing from Essendon, the 27-year-old half-back is averaging a career-high 27 disposals and leads the club in rebound 50s with 116 - a staggering 57 more than second-placed Sam Frost – despite missing the opening four weeks of the season with knee tendonitis.

While many of his former Essendon players slogged it out last year while serving a one-year suspension, Hibberd, and close mate Michael Hurley, did limited work, preferring instead to let their hair down and enjoy an extended overseas holiday.

“They (other suspended players) trained pretty hard but we didn’t see the point of training as AFL players, not that we wanted to anyway,” the Demon star told SEN’s The Run Home.

“Training like an AFL footballer when you can’t go out and crash and bash on the weekend seemed a bit pointless.”

It’s no coincidence that Hurley and Hibberd have been the standouts of the 12 players suspended last season for their part in the Essendon supplements saga.

Hibberd rated weight loss, and a strong straight-line running regim during pre-season, as the keys to strong form after making his Melbourne debut in Round 5 against Richmond.

In 15 of the left-footer’s 17 matches he has rated seven or above in SEN Inside Football’s ratings. For consistency he has no peer at Melbourne and is on track to podium in the club’s best and fairest count.

Melbourne has to beat Collingwood on Saturday at the MCG to ensure the club’s first finals berth since 2006.