Jayden Hunt Biography

Melbourne captain Max Gawn condemns the behaviour of teammates Christian Petracca and Jayden Hunt who were involved in an inappropriate incident where Hunt is seen to grab Petracca's backside during Simon Goodwin's three-quarter time address during the Demons' clash against Essendon.

"Christian and Jayden know that this was an inappropriate act, which is not in line with our expectations, or that of the League," Gawn said.

"As a playing group, we understand and respect the example we need to be setting, and will continue to reinforce this going forward."

Jayden Hunt is hoping to achieve more consistency in 2019 after failing to consolidate a spot in the Demons' best 22 in 2018.

"I'm just looking at all the positives and what I can build on, and hopefully it will hold me in good stead for a good year," he said.

"It's just more consistency throughout the game and being involved and switched on the whole time – and a little bit more composure as well.

"Often, I try to do everything at 100 per cent intensity, where it's not always needed, so it's about just slowing the mind and playing the game as it comes rather than inventing things."

Jayden Hunt will be sidelined for up to six weeks with an ankle injurysuffered in the final contest of a VFL match against Collingwood at Casey Fields.

"He is currently on crutches to totally offload his foot, because we have a bit of time, given we have the bye this week," Demons high performance manager Dave Misson said.

Jayden Hunt is a surprise omission from the Demons side to play North Melbourne at the MCG.

"Jayden is someone we value incredibly highly and he certainly brings something to the team we love ... he probably hasn't been at his best yet (this year)," Demons coach Simon Goodwin said.

"He took (the demotion) fantastically well and he knows he's got a few things he needs to continually work on and he knows he's not that far away as well."

Jayden Hunt signs a two-year contract extension with Melbourne that will keep him at the club until the end of 2020.

"He is a hard worker who wants to learn and the coaching staff have done a great job year on year continually developing his game," Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said of Hunt.

"Whilst only 34 games into his career, Jayden has become one of the many young players we see playing an important role in our improvement as a club for many years."

There is the Jayden Hunt most of us are starting to get to know – the headband-wearing, blond-haired speedster quickly establishing himself as one of the AFL's brightest young stars.

Then there is the Jayden Hunt who his family and friends know, and now his social media followers are beginning to learn about – the quirky, yet respectful young man who loves golf and surfing, and is obsessed by owls and Nippy's chocolate milk.

"I let my footy do the talking and want people to respect me on the field, but off the field I'm a very laidback guy and love having fun," Hunt said.

"It's just me being me."

Melbourne coach Paul Roos says Jayden Hunt's failure to receive a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination is a "travesty" that highlights the flaws in the system.

"He's had an incredibly good year. There's one game to go and it would be an absolutely travesty if he didn't get a nomination for the Rising Star because ... he could be our best young player, potentially, this season," Roos said.

"He should be in the top three or four (young) players in the comp and hasn't been nominated.

"It just shows you the flaws in the system. He could be the best young player in the comp this year and not get a nomination."

Jayden Hunt may have only had 14 disposals against Adelaide, but the shaggy blonde-haired Melbourne youngster certainly caught the eye of his coach Paul Roos.

"You look at the stats and he only had 12 [sic] possessions but it's as good a 12-possession game as I think I've ever seen," Roos said,

In just his 11th AFL game, Hunt was just about the Demons' most influential player with his blazing pace allowing him to break the game open on numerous occasions in his side's 22-point loss against the Crows at the MCG.

Hunt was struck down by a long-term back injury in 2014, which carried through into the start of 2015.

Despite missing two games with a broken jaw towards the back end of 2015, the Demons offered him a one-year contract based on the potential he had shown while playing for the Casey Scorpions.

But after a strong start to 2016, thanks largely to an impressive pre-season, the Demons offered him a contract extension through to the end of 2018.

"He's really been building. At the start of the year you wouldn't have thought he'd get to the level that he got to today," Roos said.

"He was exceptional in the contest, exceptional at getting across the ground, helping his teammates, creating scoring opportunities and he kicked a goal himself."

After two injury-interrupted seasons, a fit Jayden Hunt re-signs with Melbourne until at least the end of 2018.

"We saw glimpses in his second year, and he showed the potential that we thought he had … and we offered him a one-year contract (for 2016)," Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said.

"He has continued to improve this year and he's extremely coachable and has attributes in his game that are at AFL level.

"He's already having an impact on AFL games and we look forward to his continued development over the next two years."

Jayden Hunt makes his AFL debut for Melbourne at the MCG with 13 disposals (7 kicks and 6 handballs), 5 marks and 2 tackles in a 35-point win over Collingwood.

Jayden Hunt has also been given a one-year contract for 2016 by the Demons.

Hunt, who has yet to make his AFL debut, has battled injuries in his first two seasons, but displayed genuine promise as a dashing utility when he played for Casey, particularly in a patch of matches in the latter part of 2015.

"Jayden had an interrupted start to his AFL career, suffering medium to long-term injuries in both years," Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said.

"His form at VFL level over a block of four to six weeks this year showed us that he's got capabilities to become an AFL player.

"He deserves an extra year on the primary list."