Melbourne could be fairytale of 2018 after stellar pre-season as second half saves St Kilda’s summer
ST KILDA’s pre-season was in tatters early against Melbourne as it stared down another hefty loss before it finally got rolling in the second half but Melbourne, who could be this year’s fairytale team, still proved far too good. TAKEAWAYS FROM DEES v SAINTS
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
MELBOURNE held off a second half challenge from St Kilda to secure its second win of the pre-season as the two clubs now turn their attention to Round 1.
INJURY: STEVEN SENDS SCARE THROUGH SAINTS AFTER ANKLE ISSUE
FORMER STAR: JEFF WHITE REVEALS HEALTH BATTLE THAT NEARLY CLAIMED HIS LIFE
REPORT: NO FLAG HANGOVER FOR RED-HOT TIGERS AFTER ROOS WIN
SUPERCOACH: EVERY SCORE FROM RICHMOND v NORTH MELBOURNE
In the end Melbourne ran out 26-point winners at Casey Fields but not before gun Saints midfielder Jack Steven sent a major scare through the club after suffering an ankle injury.
The best and fairest winner says he “should be right” for Round 1.
JAY CLARK looks at the takeaways for both teams following their final tune-up before Round 1.
MELBOURNE
LEVER LIGHTS UP
MELBOURNE fans can rest easy about the Jake Lever trade.
If Thursday night was anything to go by, the two first-round draft picks they handed over for the gun defender was the right price.
The former Adelaide star was on fire in the early stages, plucking intercept grabs and having a direct hand in two early goals as Melbourne stormed out to a 27-point lead at the first change.
The defence was Melbourne’s biggest area of concern last year, but it looked considerably stronger when Lever and Hibberd patrolled the back 50m with authority on Thursday night.
They were organised, and aggressive on the counter-attack in the win over the Saints.
The only worry in the back half was Oscar McDonald, who left the field injured in the second term with some back tightness.
McDonald took the deepest forward in the initial stages, and Neville Jetta returned to the side on Thursday night to take the job on danger small forward Jade Gresham.
Max Gawn helped out down there, chipping in with two marks a kick behind the play near half time.
But Lever looks a perfect addition.
Adelaide was filthy he left and the man likened to a young Alex Rance looks every chance to play 200 decent games for the Dees.
ANOTHER FAIRYTALE?
MELBOURNE looks like this year’s big bolter.
They have the talent, the belief is building and on Thursday night they were methodical and disciplined the way they demolished St Kilda in the first half.
After Richmond and Western Bulldogs’ premiership wins over the past two seasons, it is not fanciful to suggest the Dees could write another flag fairytale in 2018.
They should definitely keep September free, at least, after missing the eight last year.
Certainly, that nucleus of young talent they have been patiently investing in at the draft looks absolutely ripe. And forgotten man Angus Brayshaw has returned to the mix.
Aside from a flat third quarter, coach Simon Goodwin must be so pleased with the way things are shaping up.
We have talked a lot about the decision to skip the Commando Camp due to player safety concerns, but so far this preseason has been a huge tick for the Dees.
RAGING BULL
CLAYTON Oliver is ready to continue where he left off last season.
At half time, the man who won last year’s best and fairest by a runaway margin in only his second season was having another field day.
He had 17 possessions, two goals and leather poisoning at half time.
The man is just so clean and quick at the ball in congestion.
Dees’ great Garry Lyon has said from Oliver’s first season he is Melbourne’s best young player.
Geez, Christian Petracca was dangerous at centre half forward and seemed to generate a score every time he touched the ball inside 50m.
He is ready to explode, Petracca.
You have to think he likes playing against St Kilda, the club which overlooked him in favour of Paddy McCartin with the No. 1 pick.
But Oliver showed on Thursday night he is ready to take his brilliant ball winning up another gear this season.
Jack Viney is racing the clock to return from his foot injury in time for Round 1 against the Cats but Oliver is ready to lock horns with Gaz and Co. in the season-opener.
SUPERCOACH LOCK
MAX Gawn is the biggest no-brainer in SuperCoach.
The star big man dominated the centre square ruck contests and took a swath of marks against his opponent Tom Hickey.
He’s slimmed down and ready to hit the form of his life this year.
At $503,700 he should be first picked.
ST KILDA
SUMMER WORRY
THE third term fightback helped save St Kilda’s preseason.
At the main change, the Saints were shaping up as the biggest worry of the lot, after a poor first-up loss to Carlton last week.
And the early signs on Thursday night as Melbourne scored from 12 of its first 15 entries forward seemed even more concerning.
But, fighting back from 31 points down, the Saints dialled up the pressure in the third term and opted for more precise kicking instead of the over handballing from the first half.
They handballed far too much in the first half.
THE CAPTAIN: GEARY SAYS SAINTS MUST GET ‘MENTALLY TOUGHER’
IN THE RED: SAINTS TOLD TO CUT THEIR DEBT
CHANGING TIMES: AFL CONSIDERS MID-SEASON TRADES FOR 2018
JON RALPH: MORE DOWN THAN UPSIDE FOR AFL IN MID-SEASON TRADES
But, after the interval — for the first time in the JLT Series — they were clean with the ball.
Shane Savage helped ignite the comeback off half back, while key forward Josh Bruce caught fire with three third-term goals and some straight-kicking.
Utility Blake Acres was busy, Jack Billings was prominent in his return from another hamstring injury and Seb Ross is as reliable as old pair of jeans, already.
Both Ross and Acres had eight touches each in the crucial six-goal third-term comeback.
Acres has shown some great signs over his short career, but this was a strong statement when the Saints were on their knees early.
You could sense coach Alan Richardson’s relief from the coaching box ahead of a big year.
SIZE MATTERS
THE size of St Kilda’s forward line will be a fascinating talking point throughout the year.
There’s no doubt the trend in the game is to go smaller in attack and pile on the pressure with speedy, mobile types.
But the Saints’ have three big blokes in attack — Paddy McCartin, Tim Membrey and Bruce — plus at times the No.1 ruckman Tom Hickey.
At the other end, Melbourne had spearhead Jesse Hogan and Christian Petracca as the second key forward. It was a much more dynamic look.
Certainly early on, Melbourne had little trouble blunting the St Kilda big men and then repelling with force, before St Kida’s third term turnaround.
That’s when Bruce and McCartin made their mark.
The other good news for the Saints was Jade Gresham looks ready to make the step up from flashy small forward to damaging playmaker.
We can definitely expect a spike this year.
He came alive in the second term nailing a tight-angled snap and then set up No.7 draft pick Hunter Clark for another direct goal assist only moments later.
RADARS TUNED
THIS was an important step for Jack Billings.
If St Kilda is going to flourish into a genuine contender over the next couple of years, this silky midfielder clearly has to become a star of the game.
And we were worried when the hamstring strained last month.
But the class, polish and creativity was on display at times on Thursday night.
Despite his goal kicking yips last year, he looks like their most damaging ball winner in the front half of the ground.
And importantly he nailed a long set shot early in the last term, after a long summer overhauling his technique with new goal kicking coach Ben Dixon.
Pleasingly, the Saints’ radars were finely-tuned on Thursday night.
GUN COLT
NICK Coffield is in the box seat to step straight into the Saints’ Round 1 team against Brisbane, and Hunter Clark isn’t far behind.
No. 8 pick Coffield could be a straight swap for retired veteran for Leigh Montagna off half back.
He looked assured again on Thursday night and costs $171,300 in SuperCoach.
SuperCoach scores: Oliver back to his best; questions over rookies
Clayton Oliver is back and a must-pick option. Meanwhile, plenty of rookies took the field in Freo’s clash with Melbourne, giving us some answers – and some more questions. EVERY PRE-SEASON SCORE.
How JHF found his place at Alberton – on and off the field
What Jason Horne-Francis is doing on the field won’t surprise anyone – but how he’s grown in other facets of life might. The young star opens up two years on from his return home.