Melbourne ruckman Braydon Preuss injured in VFL practice match
Melbourne stars Jack Viney, Nathan Jones, Jake Melsksham and recruit Braydon Preuss lined up in a VFL practice match today against the Brisbane Lions. How did they go?
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Melbourne co-captain Nathan Jones says he “couldn’t feel better” after emerging from an injury-plagued pre-season in a practice match with the Casey Demons.
Jones put in a full shift at the Casey Field curtain-raiser alongside senior teammates Jack Viney, Jake Melksham and Sam Frost in the Demons’ 75-point win over Brisbane Lions reserves.
But recruited ruckman Braydon Preuss wasn’t so lucky, succumbing to a groin injury in the third quarter and taking no further part.
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“It’s always good to have your first hitout and no matter what standard it is you can’t replicate it in pre-season,” Jones said.
“Me, Melky and Vines said at quarter-time that we were blowing a fair bit, but I’m pretty happy. It was a good result for Jade (Rawlings) and the Casey boys and obviously some good preparation that was very much needed.”
Viney had ankle surgery in the off-season, while Melksham and Jones have battled hamstring problems during the pre-season.
Jones’ hamstring strain prior to Christmas was the first of his career, before experiencing some back pain and redoing it in the new year.
The trio played out the game, but had their minutes carefully managed.
“We’ve been conservative (over summer), which is fair enough. I hurt it (hamstring) just before Christmas and re-did it in a similar spot so I had to take some more time,” Jones said.
“But I couldn’t feel better really. Obviously, you’re blowing some cobwebs out … but I’m pretty confident my body will be able to hold up.
“I had a similar preparation last pre-season. I was pretty injured all the way up to Round 1 and ended up playing most of the year (he played every game).”
Jones said there was no doubt he would be ready for Melbourne’s season-opener against Port Adelaide on March 23.
“I back in my experience for one thing and obviously my durability over a long period of time, so I think that’s an advantage for the three of us,” he said.
With some players and coaches irritated over the restricted use of runners this season, Jones said the maturing Demons were well-placed to cope.
“There’s going to be a heightened responsibility for our leaders,” he said.
“I think we’ll be in a good position. It will be difficult for a lot of teams and it’s going to take another skill set for a lot of guys, but I think we can cover it.
“We’ve discussed it in our preparations over the last month and we’re probably as prepared as we could be in that space.”
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