Back-to-back AFL wooden spooners Melbourne are set to "seriously improve" next year, according to midfielder Cameron Bruce.

Bruce said injuries had ruined the Demons' past two seasons but a combination of a fit list, more experienced young players and a clutch of key draft picks would lift the side.

"We've got a lot of young guys that got experience last year who wouldn't have got it otherwise," Bruce said on Tuesday.

"We've had two years of shocking luck with injuries and this competition's so even that all the top sides have a really good run with injuries.

"If we can have that, that automatically reduces the gap between us at 16th and the top sides.

"So if we get a bit of luck there and get a quality player in, get quality draft picks in.

"And us old guys want to finish on a good note, we want to be playing finals in winning teams.

"I'd be very surprised if we don't seriously improve next year.

"It's the most excited I've been in a while in terms of the talent that's come into this club.

"I'll be doing everything I can to make sure we get the most out of that talent."

Bruce, 30, is also keen for want-away St Kilda star Luke Ball to join Melbourne, especially after the departure for Carlton of midfielder Brock McLean.

"It's disappointing to lose a player of his calibre ... but we've got a top 15 draft pick for him so that will give us four in the top 20 and it just adds to the exciting list of young guys who will be pretty keen to prove a point."

Bruce said Ball would add significantly to the side.

"He'd be a pretty good replacement for Brock I would have thought. His professionalism and leadership would be unbelievable for this group of players here.

"And he'd help us older guys too so whatever his decision is hopefully it involves coming down to the Demons."

Bruce said the players would also be happy to meet Ball, if requested to by the club management.

"We haven't really spoken about it but if the coaching staff and recruiters think that it would be worthwhile having a chat to him we'll be happy to do that," he said.

"If we can get as many good players playing for our footy club as we can that will make sure we rise up the ladder quicker than we'd hope for."

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