Melbourne shows its versatile side in big JLT Series win over North Melbourne
MELBOURNE paid a high price for Jake Lever and after one game, the former Crow looks to be worth every cent. JAMES BRESNEHAN looks at all the big talking points from the Demons’ win over North Melbourne.
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MELBOURNE’S forward line is bursting at the seams with scoring potential and it’s not all about Jesse Hogan.
Hogan’s heroes stepped up against North Melbourne in Hobart on Saturday to pile on 19 goals and 29 scoring shots and the support acts did their bit.
As well as Hogan’s three goals, Bayley Fritsch snapped three, and Alex Neal-Bullen, Tomas Bugg and James Harmes all kicked two apiece.
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About 15 players rotated through Melbourne’s scoring zone as part of coach Simon Goodwin’s blueprint.
Melbourne’s forward group competed strongly in the air and on the ground.
SCORPION BITES
HE’S unknown now but if Bayley Fritsch continues to play the way he did, his name will soon be on the lips of every Melbourne fan.
Plucked from Casey as a mature-age recruit, Fritsch is easy to spot wearing Ron Barassi’s No. 31, and running amok inside the forward 50m.
He launched a “Fritschkrieg” on Saturday, resulting in 3.2 and he gifted one to Max Gawn in the goalsquare.
He is strong in the air as his six marks attest and just as handy on the ground.
LEVER SETTLES IN
LITTLE wonder Melbourne bent over backwards to get Jake Lever into its backline.
Only five months ago he was playing for Adelaide in the Grand Final against Richmond.
In his first game for his new club, Lever showed enough to suggest he will be the best thing to happen to the Demons’ back half in years.
With 15 touches and three marks, Lever showed his strength in the air, and his communication behind the ball was evident.
He has had a really good summer from a training perspective and he has fitted in well to the playing group.
With Michael Hibberd in excellent form (27 disposals), Melbourne has increased its defensive edge.
CAT IN THE HAT
MELBOURNE fans saw little of Angus Brayshaw in 2017.
He has played only 11 games in the past two seasons after medicos ruled his concussions issues had rendered him “unfit” to play following his fourth episode in 12 months.
The future looks a lot brighter for the 22-year-old midfielder after he survived and thrived for the Dees at the Twin Ovals.
It was a modest return of 13 possessions, two marks and two tackles but enough to show he was back.
Coach Simon Goodwin was pleased with Brayshaw’s inside game on a wing and then his rebound efforts in defence replacing Jordan Lewis (calf) when he went off.
The Dees see him as a virtual recruit and are excited by the possibilities.
BLISTERING BILLY SETS THE PACE
BILLY Hartung is known as an elite runner and good ball user, and that’s exactly what he brought to the table for North Melbourne against the Dees in Hobart.
Hartung was the only Kangaroo to break the lines and run hard over distance with the ball, including a magic goal on the run from a pocket and with a tricky breeze adding to the degree of difficulty.
He played 63 games for Hawthorn and the reason why the Hawks gave Hartung the heave-ho at the end of last season was nowhere to be seen on Saturday.
He worked hard and kicked two goals, his team’s equal most alongside Ben Brown and Jarrad Waite.
GOLDY ROCKS
IS there life in the old ruckman? The Kangas say yes and so does the two-time All-Australian.
Last year may have been a reality check for big “Goldy” coming off his All-Australian domination.
Goldstein was somewhat overshadowed by his opposite number Max Gawn — 39-26 hit-outs — other than that his numbers were close to the big Dee.
North got good game-time into their ruckman and say he will improve from that.
The Kangas also got just enough game-time into another golden oldie, Jarrad Waite, who kicked two goals.
LUKE DAVIES-UNIACKE
THE Kangaroos spent their No. 4 pick in the National Draft well when they chose this tough youngster.
He got enough of the ball to put a smile on the face of coach Brad Scott.
He wears No. 9 — vacated by former captain Andrew Swallow — and like the man he replaced, Davies-Uniacke is not afraid to get his hands dirty and take a hit.
As he attempted to get his first touch, he was crunched by three Dees — welcome to the AFL. He dusted himself off and got straight back to work.
MAJAK IN DEFENCE
THE big man has trained all summer as a defender and that’s going to be his role this year.
Daw has been earmarked as a replacement for Lachie Hansen as the third tall down back.
It was the first time he had played on anyone other than his teammates, so it was a critical learning experience.
The Kangaroos say he’s got elements of his game that can’t be taught, and others where he must be taught — this match was valuable experience.
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