Tew Jiath might not have played an AFL game last year, but there are plenty of things that he did do.

It could’ve been easy for the second-year player, who spent the first half of 2025 in the VFL before having his season abruptly ended by hip surgery in June, to adopt a woe is me mindset throughout the rehabilitation process. But that is not the way the optimistic and ever-grateful 20-year-old goes about his life.

Uplifted by the fact the AFL side was on a path to the finals, Jiath continued to consistently come into the KGM Centre during 2025’s winter months and identified a range of areas – both football and otherwise – where he could grow.

“I tore my quad mid-year, but I had hip problems throughout. We just scrapped the season and just did the hip surgery early so I could get a pre-season in which is probably more important at this stage of my career,” he said.

“I was really lucky the season was still going, so I was still able to come in and connect with people and not feel alone and I was grateful for that.

“I was able to work on things that I would not be able to work on if I was playing, like putting on weight over the break, so that was like a blessing in disguise.

“Then off field, I started doing work with Magpie Nest since I had the extra time which was nice.”

That first point is objectively noticeable if you see Jiath running around the Pies’ training base in what is now his third pre-season.

Now a more muscular and physically attuned version of the player the Pies drafted a little over two years ago, putting on the weight has been an enjoyable process for Jiath – but not necessarily one that has come naturally.

“People look at my brother (older brother and Melbourne defender Changkouth) and my siblings who were able to put on weight pretty easily, but I always found it hard to time - the hardest thing is timing when to put the weight on and how much to put on,” he said.

“I wasn't running for about 10 weeks, so that was the perfect time for myself to get on an eating plan with Jo the dietician and then the guys in strength and conditioning gave me a really clear plan in the gym.

“So for about three or four months, that was like the plan. Just put on eight kilos - I ended up putting on ten and obviously trimmed back a bit after the pre-season started.

“Becoming creative is important and Jo gave me some foods that I hadn't really eaten before, like for breakfast I'd have overnight oats, but you'd change it up what's in the oats or for dinner, making sure that like you're actually enjoying what you're eating instead of just getting down a lot of food.

“I've always been interested in how it actually works when you're bulking or putting on weight, so those are things that I probably learned the most that it's not as easy as just scoffing down food. But it was good fun.”

And away from the gym and the kitchen, Jiath had a purpose too.

Working closely with the Club’s Player Development Management (PDM) team and the Community team too, Jiath began attending the Magpie Nest Café frequently.

The program, which serves meals to Melbourne’s less fortunate, is a place the Pies’ younger players volunteer throughout the year, but Jiath took his efforts above and beyond and showed wisdom beyond his age.

“The PDM team was really nice throughout the whole process, making me feel comfortable and guiding me with the off-field stuff as well as on the field and making me feel like I still belong,” he said.

“The best way to explain it is we have our job as AFL players and you can feel like you don't really have to do as much off field, but that's probably just as important or more important because footy is a small part of life and it's not guaranteed that you're going to be out there for 15 years.

“That mentality that footy is not everything and you still need stuff to fall back on off field, that was probably the most important thing that the PDM team tried to enforce in me and I’m always grateful for them.

“When you go to the Café, the feeling leaving you get is joy because you feel like you've contributed to someone's day and made them feel happier walking out of there.

“Every time I went with the academy group, the same thing from the other boys was that same feeling of gratitude when you leave. So that was always good fun.”

That balance during what was a challenging period of injuries has held Jiath in good stead now that he is back immersed with the group on the track.

While all he wanted to do was put his best foot forward to be out there as the Club’s 2025 season came to its denouement in September, his perspective and advice from those around him meant he was able to understand his role at that time.

“When finals came around, it was really exciting to be around the Club,” he said.

“And yeah, you get jealous, that's the best way to put it, you’ve always got to wish you were playing. But Fly’s really good at making sure you're thinking about others instead of yourself the whole time.

“It's okay to feel like you want to be playing but making sure that you're not showing it and bringing others down is key.”

While already a well-connected person and player in the locker room, deepening his relationships with many of his teammates kept spirits high too.

Moving into a share house with fellow youngster Will Hayes was another positive to come out of 2025 for Jiath, while there’s a whole range of players he engages with away from the Club.

“I started living with Hayesy when I started rehab, I had surgery when I moved into there for the first time,” he said.

“I've gotten really close with him and Ed Allan over the last year or the last six months and Hayesy’s been really good for me - he helped me when I had surgery and he was bulking as well, so it was like a little house full of food which was funny.

“Isaac (Quaynor) has always been a good friend of mine who's at the Club and he's just really good at bringing you back down to earth and making you feel like you're not alone.

“Those guys have been really good to me. Then I've been gaming a little bit … we had a little gaming group, we’re on Fortnite, which I hate to admit. It was myself, Ed, Jamie (Elliott), Nick (Daicos), and Chooka (Frampton) was on sometimes on 2K.

“I was in rehab, so I had a lot of time. Those guys would get on, which was fun and make you laugh, which is nice, so I've gotten closer with those guys throughout the year.”

And now that the rehab process is over, Jiath can re-focus on his on-field progress.

Working closely with veteran defender Jeremy Howe, who has been a mentor since he arrived at the Club, and ensuring the muscle he’s put on is translated into the way he plays the game, Jiath’s had some clear focuses throughout the pre-season.

“Howie's always been a good mentor for me on the field and he's always good for a catch up for coffee off field,” he said.

“It’s pretty cliche but the putting on the weight has allowed me to play more confidently. Obviously, you're versing men the whole time, so that's half a tick I guess.

“Making sure that I can actually use the weight to my advantage has been key but my defensive side of the game - I've always been a bit of an attacking mindset guy so I've been working with Howie around my aerial stuff and having that mindset of defence first and then my offence will come off the back of that.

“Then it’s just actioning that in our training, getting confidence back and working on my fundamentals. Not to be cliche again, but that stuff gets you games at the highest level, being able to do the basic stuff well and being able to be depended on at the right time.”

There’s no doubting Jiath’s desire and commitment to his craft, and with practice matches starting this month, the 188cm tall can’t wait to put all his hard work into action.

Looking to add to his solitary career game – having debuted in Round 14, 2024 – Jiath is equally as pragmatic as he is prepared for his chance.

With the balance he’s created in what is a burgeoning career, the dashing defender is ready to in his words, “stack them up”.

“There’s always going to be opportunities which is good to think about, but you’ve got to earn them,” he said.

“In the coming year, hopefully I can get a few more games in, I’ve only had the one since coming in, so I’ll try to stack them up.”