WHETHER they be the Rat Pack, the Men’s Department, the Melbourne Defence Force or whatever name the Demons back six eventually settle on, one thing’s for certain – Daniel Bell wants in.

The 22-year-old is enjoying his finest pre-season since joining the club at the end of 2002 and looks likely to further cement his spot in the side and build on his 45-game career in 2008.

That will most likely be in defence, so it will come as no surprise to Demons fans that Bell has spent large portions of the summer working with assistant coach Sean Wellman and the club’s defensive group.

“Seany’s been really good, I’ve learnt a lot already from him,” the former South Australian told melbournefc.com.au.

“I can actually remember him playing for the Crows, as I used to go for the Crows back in the day.

“He’s really knowledgeable when it comes to body-on-body and zoning off. I can remember watching him play and you never saw him get beaten.”

Wellman was part of winning cultures at both Adelaide and then Essendon, while new coach Dean Bailey also brings that with him from Port Adelaide.

The Demons, after a disappointing 2007, are hoping the pair can bring some of that success to the club this year.

Bell likes what he has seen – and heard – so far from the new head coach, and thinks some of the lessons learned in Bailey’s days at Port might be incorporated into the Dees’ playing style.

“I didn’t really know what to expect early on but I’ve found him really easy going and easy to talk to,” Bell said of Bailey.

“Probably the one thing with him is he probably seems more of a teacher.

“With Bails we’re doing things like written tests and a lot of the things are getting into my head a lot better.

“Our game plan’s probably going to be a little bit different to what we’re used to … we’re probably going to end up playing a bit like Port [Adelaide], in my opinion.”

Bell played 17 matches in 2007, with a hamstring injury forcing him to miss three games mid-year before he suffered neck and back soreness in a sickening clash against Collingwood in round 20.

Bell missed the final two games of the season after the incident in which Magpie Ben Johnson consequently accepted a six-match ban for making forceful front-on contact.

However Bell, while admitting to some anxious moments after the clash, says there will be no long-lasting effects.

“I was concerned myself because you feel something go in your back and the way I was hit, you’re not real sure what’s going on,” he said.

“I had a sore back there for a couple of weeks but in the last couple of years my back hasn’t been that great anyway.

“And I’ll probably put my head down over the pill more now with the way the rules are going.”

And Bell knows that in the backline, when you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go. If he doesn’t, and it costs a goal, his mates won’t be happy.

One suspects going for the “pill” won’t be a problem for Bell or his mates. Although right now, in mid-January, thankfully the issues are less pressing.

“We’re still trying to come up with a name [for ourselves],” Bell said.

“I think Jared Rivers has thrown up Rat Pack as a name for our group.

“Jace Bode threw up Men’s Department, I don’t know what that’s about.

“I think MDF might come through. I think Matty Whelan chucked up MDF, which is Melbourne Defence Force.”