MELBOURNE co-captain James McDonald says the club is looking to build a list from the ground up in a similar fashion to Hawthorn.

The Hawks won the premiership after finishing in 15th position just four years ago and McDonald said the Demons should look to follow their lead after finishing on the bottom of the ladder this season.

“Hopefully we can find a Buddy Franklin in the draft or something like that. That’s the way the draft is set up to work. The coaches that go down that path have to hold their nerve and not panic,” McDonald said.

The 32-year-old said it was important not to simply sweep the 2008 campaign under the carpet, but to learn from it if the Demons are to climb the ladder.

“We have to remember it for the future if we do improve, which we will. We have to remember what it was like and the young boys will learn from that,” he said.

“We got a lot of games into a fair few young blokes this year which will speed up their development.”

Not only did Melbourne win just three games, but it lost David Neitz, Adam Yze, Jeff White and Ben Holland, while Russell Robertson was injured early in the season.

McDonald, who became a co-captain of the club after Netiz’s retirement admitted he struggled with the pressure of suddenly becoming the most experienced player in the team.

“It was definitely hard. With Neita going down early and Russell Robertson getting injured as well. They have been great stalwarts as well as Ooze and Whitey (Jeff White) in and out of the side it was a tough year,” he said.

“It was hard to lose all that experience all in one hit. I had a bit of extra responsibility which helps.”

McDonald followed up back-to-back best and fairests by finishing fifth in 2008. But he was quick to dismiss any suggestion he had a good season.

“I just had an average year like everyone else. When you finish 16th you can’t rate yourself too highly. I had a few injury problems but I battled away. It was pretty average.”