AFL pre-season: All the latest news from Melbourne’s practice match with North Melbourne
A shell-shocked North Melbourne has conceded its pre-season humbling from reigning premier Melbourne has put players and coaches on notice. Read the full fallout.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
North Melbourne recruit Callum Coleman-Jones was forced to sit out the second half of the Kangaroos’ 88-point practice match loss to Melbourne at Casey Fields.
The former Tiger copped a knock to his knee during the third term and was immediately taken down to the rooms for an assessment.
He took no further part in the game where the gulf of talent and experience between the reigning premiers and last year’s wooden spoon side was stark.
The Demons went in with a very experienced side, with only four of last year’s premiership side missing, while the Kangaroos unveiled some new talent, including impressive No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis, who showed some great signs in the second half.
Footy’s back! Everything you need to know for 2022 is in the Herald Sun footy magazine. Click here for more details.
WHO STARRED
MELBOURNE
This might as well have been 2021 revisited with 19 of the Demons’ premiership 23 playing all or part of the practice match against the Kangaroos.
Clayton Oliver put a brief scare through the Dees’ camp early when he suffered a dislocated finger in the opening term, but it proved only a minor irritation. He left the field for a short time, but resumed in sparking style soon after. In the end, leather-poisoning might have been his own concern as he was prolific from start to finish.
Ben Brown resumed this year where he left off last season with five goals. He was dominant in the air as well as when the ball hit the ground.
He worked well with Tom McDonald who kicked three goals, while James Harmes booted three goals. The Demons had 10 individual goalkickers, sharing the load.
Ed Langdon was impressive again on the wing, while Adam Tomlinson slotted well back into defence in his first game back from his ACL in Round 7 last year.
NORTH MELBOURNE
As the score-line indicated, the Kangaroos found the going tough, particularly in the second and third terms.
But after a relatively modest start, the club’s No.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis worked into the game in a manner that would clearly excite coach David Noble and the North Melbourne fans.
He lifted his rating – and helped to lift his team at times – with some strong work through the midfield and in attack, with his hardness at the ball and his tackling a real asset.
Tarryn Thomas was busy and seems destined for much more midfield time, Hugh Greenwood will bring some extra grunt and experience to a young on-ball brigade, and Jack Ziebell provided good leadership down back.
MAGNETS MOVED
MELBOURNE
Why change something that isn’t broken? It’s understandable that Simon Goodwin has been reluctant to swing the magnets after what occurred last season.
But given what we saw at Casey Fields, we can expect to see Kozzie Pickett to have a few more midfield cameos. He looked good when he was in what is already a jam-packed midfield full of talent.
NORTH MELBOURNE
The one thing Noble is intent on doing is having a revolving midfield and giving some of the young players a chance to make a bid for a spot.
Tarryn Thomas is a massive tick in that role. Horne-Francis moved between forward and midfield, but looked steady and assured. The lessons learnt against the likes of Oliver, Christian Petracca and co will be invaluable for the young Kangaroos.
RECRUIT/DRAFT WATCH
MELBOURNE
This was hardly applicable for the Demons who had 19 of their premiership 23 playing. The only players who were missing from that last Saturday in September were Jake Lever (ankle), Harrison Petty (calf), Jack Viney (health and safety protocols) and Bayley Fritsch (calf). All but Petty should be right for next week.
Most of the Melbourne hopefuls took part in a training sessions that followed this practice game.
NORTH MELBOURNE
It was a frustrating first game for North Melbourne recruit Callum Coleman-Jones who spent the first half playing in the ruck and forward before suffering a knock to his knee in the third term. He was immediately taken from the field and sent to the rooms with his day coming to a premature end.
Greenwood and Horne-Francis were up against it versus the Demons’ midfield but showed good signs.
ROUND 1 BOLTERS
Hard to see any Round 1 bolters for the Demons, though Tomlinson’s possible return would be some sort of story after his luckless run with an ACL injury last year.
Pencil in Jason Horne-Francis, though the Kangaroos could also consider the likes of Josh Goater given Aaron Hall’s injury, while Paul Curtis and Miller Bergman had a chance to show their wares.
Panic stations? Stunned Roos’ grave admission after whitewash
A shocked North Melbourne conceded Thursday’s 88-point practice match whitewash to reigning premiers Melbourne had been “a serious wake-up call” for players and coaches just 25 days out from the club’s Round 1 against Hawthorn.
It comes as the Kangaroos are sweating on the fitness of big man recruit Callum Coleman-Jones, who failed to take part in much of the second half after leaving the field with a knock to his knee.
At one stage the experienced Demons - with 19 of its 23 premiership heroes playing - piled on 10 consecutive goals to set up the thrashing.
Melbourne was outstanding, with Ben Brown booting five goals, Clayton Oliver dominant in the middle and defender Adam Tomlinson making a strong return after having recovered from the ACL injury he suffered in Round 7 last year.
Steven May left the field late in the game, but Brown said he was fine.
North Melbourne assistant coach Heath Younie said the club was yet to have clarity on the seriousness of Coleman-Jones’ injury, but will assess the situation in the next 24 hours.
The more immediate concern for senior coach David Noble and his lieutenants was the lack of intent at times from the inexperienced Kangaroos side.
“I think it is a wake-up call for all of us, coaches included,” Younie said.
“We have done a lot of work over the preseason and we have been reasonably buoyant, but this is a real wake up call about how much hard work we have ahead of us.
“That’s not what we expect at the moment as a footy club. Our fans shouldn’t expect that.
“We are not settled on our squad at the moment for Round 1. When you play so disappointingly, we have positions that will be up for grabs.”
Younie said Coleman-Jones would be assessed in the coming days, but appeared to have suffered a knock to his knee which prematurely ended the former Tiger’s day.
Younie said the Kangaroos would likely get back Luke McDonald, Jy Simpkin and Luke Davies-Uniacke to take on the Swans in the AAMI Community Series.
He stressed the lack of intent at times was the most frustrating aspect of the heavy loss.
“Regardless of the situation, whether it is a practice match or not, you want to come with intent. I thought in the first 15 minutes there was some really good stuff … but after that Melbourne flexed their muscles, and they were just too strong for us,” he said.
The Kangaroos’ No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis gave a hint of what fans can expect this season with a solid game through the midfield and in attack, with his third quarter, in particular, standing out.
“Jason is going to have a lot of hype around him, (but) we are really pleased with how he has progressed and come into our footy club,” Younie said.
“It will be interesting to see what he thought the jump up was to playing SANFL footy.”
Ben Brown said he felt fitter than he had felt before and was looking forward to seeing how the club could respond after last year’s stunning premiership success.
“It’s fun playing footy when you’re winning and playing well and part of the team,” Brown said.
He said the Demons were being driven by those players who missed out on the flag success last year, including Tomlinson, who was one of those hard luck stories.
“It’s nice for us not to play on him at training anymore,” Brown said.
“He’s been flying. The work he’s done to get back to the point he is is a credit to Tommo. He trains as hard as anyone I’ve come across.
“It’s a credit to him to get himself up to this point. it’s been a quick rehab, (he is) incredibly strong and he’ll be a really great inclusion for us at the start of the year.”
More Coverage
Originally published as AFL pre-season: All the latest news from Melbourne’s practice match with North Melbourne
Gather Round: Crows open again, Ken, Hawks set for blockbuster
One of the biggest moments of the AFL season came after the Power-Hawks final when Ken Hinkley told Jack Ginnivan he wouldn’t be flying to Sydney. Now we know when the rematch is coming.
Ralph: The key Dees developments that could save Goodwin’s job
Melbourne’s public review said it was capable of playing finals, but their game plan had to be refined, now the work begins for Simon Goodwin after a tumultuous 31 months, writes Jon Ralph.