MELBOURNE has continued the remodelling of its midfield, signing discarded Adelaide on-baller Aidan Riley as a delisted free agent.
Riley, 21, battled hard for senior opportunities at the Crows in 2013, finally earning his chance in round 14 after strong performances at SANFL level with Sturt.
However, he broke his leg in the opening minutes of the following week's clash with West Coast, ending his season and bringing his career at Adelaide to a close after 12 matches.
Riley joins former teammate Bernie Vince in the new-look Demons midfield, which also includes trade period recruits Dom Tyson and Viv Michie, and former Western Bulldogs veteran Daniel Cross.
Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said the club had confidence the clearance specialist could succeed at AFL level.
"Aidan has been a quality performer in the SANFL and at 21 years old, and with four seasons in the AFL system behind him, we feel he is ready to grasp the next opportunity in his football career," Mahoney told melbournefc.com.au.
"He will add depth to our midfield, which has been strengthened throughout the recent trade and now delisted free agency period.
"Aidan also has attributes which could see him playing at both ends of the ground."?
The Demons will now have three live picks in next week's NAB AFL Draft: No.9, No.40 and No.57.
