Track Watch: The latest pre-season scouting notes from training at the Kangaroos and Demons

A number of young guns were thrown right into the fire at North pre-season training, moving into different roles, while Christian Petracca continues to ramp up his return preparations.

Top North Melbourne draftee Finn O’Sullivan may be set to start his career on the outside as a number of new roles were showcased in a lengthy match simulation on Monday.

The Roos broke into 15-on-15 full-ground gameplay in the latter half of a long session, with Caleb Daniel impressing in his pet position at half-back.

The former Dog was All-Australian in 2020 when playing on the half-back flank, before being shifted around the field in his latter years at the Bulldogs, but he was locked into the high defender role on Monday.

His trademark kicking was immediately apparent, hitting three kicks up the corridor in a row to start his gameplay.

Luke Parker rotated between inside midfield and half-forward as expected, appearing to swap with Jy Simpkin.

Luke Parker. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Colby McKercher. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Harry Sheezel played solely as an inside midfielder during his time in the game, at one point roving a tap from ruck Tristan Xerri to perfection as he cruised through a stoppage untouched.

O’Sullivan played on a team in blue jumpers that appeared to be full of first team players and was matched up against Dylan Stephens on the wing for the entirety of the session.

The No. 2 draft pick found space at times and moved well in traffic to dish a pair of handballs.

After playing a similar role to Daniel in his debut season, youngster Colby McKercher was playing in the midfield on Monday.

Players of note in the yellow ‘B’ team were George Wardlaw, Will Phillips, Eddie Ford, Stephens and Darcy Tucker, who racked up plenty of ball at half-back.

Draftee Matt Whitlock played at full-back, assigned with manning star goalkicker Nick Larkey.

At one point the skinny Whitlock was easily pushed aside in a marking contest by the bigger-bodied Larkey, with the No.27 pick no match for one of the league’s best forwards.

It may have been some revenge for Larkey, who copped one from the teen last week.

“I probably love most his competitiveness. I had a drill last week where I was probably 100m from the ball and I go to reset and he gives me a big crack in the back,” Larkey said.

“I just flashed back to when I tried to do that to Robbie Tarrant in my first year and then the next play he absolutely decked me to the ground. Times have changed so I didn’t do that to big ‘Whitters’.

“I just took note in my mind that I would remember that one. He didn’t come to contested marking afterwards. I admire it (the competitiveness), I like it. That is what you want at training.”

Matt Whitlock took on a big challenge. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

At one point coach Alastair Clarkson appeared to have a discussion with Curtis around his positioning, after he blew a simple kick coming out of defence.

Cam Zurhaar missed the session due to sickness, while Jack Darling completed half before leaving the track.

At the other end, the first-choice backline included Toby Pink, Griffin Logue – wearing a pink no-contact hat as he continues to recover from wrist surgery – Miller Bergman and Daniel.

Bergman took a strong intercept mark at one point as he develops toward playing that hybrid defensive role.

A lengthy rehab group remained working away from the main players, with Charlie Comben, Zac Fisher, Aidan Corr, Josh Goater and Zane Duursma among that cohort, who have all been separated for most of pre-season so far.

Wil Dawson was back running after shoulder surgery last month, and was on the track without any visible strapping.

The key back was aiming to get back into full training after Christmas.

North Melbourne will head up to Gold Coast on Thursday and hold a Queensland camp to finish off their program before Christmas.

DEES TRACK WATCH: PETRACCA CONTINUES PATH BACK TO FOOTY

– Harvey Contsable

Just like his off-field cooking brand, Christian Petracca appears to be back ‘on trac’ this preseason, hardly skipping a beat during Melbourne’s training session on Monday.

Petracca, who suffered a gruesome season-ending internal injury in the King’s Birthday clash earlier this year, has come back looking fit and firing heading into what the Demons will hope is a big 2025 season.

The dual Melbourne Best and Fairest winner was a vocal presence throughout the session and at times looked a class above the rest, hardly fumbling or missing a kick, a trademark of his game.

The uber-professional Petracca was one of the last to leave the park, staying behind with a few teammates after the main session to practice his set-shot kicking, then staying to take some photos with fans.

Melbourne’s Head of Development, Mark ‘Choco’ Williams was the main orchestrator of the session which included a continuous full-ground drill lasting 20 minutes.

The session consisted of many high speed transition drills with an emphasis on moving the ball quickly from one end to the other via both hand and foot.

In his second year of AFL footy, Caleb Windsor could be set for a move to the halfback line, starting there during the full-ground drill with his speed and evasiveness on full display.

Almost all of Melbourne’s list were on the park but Jake Lever, Charlie Spargo, Shane McAdam and No. 11 pick Xavier Lindsay all trained away from the main group.

Lever and Spargo spent very little time with ball in hand with the latter on very light duties as he continues to recover from an achilles injury suffered during the season.

Former Cat Mitch Hardie trained with the Dees alongside Roy George – uncle of Kysaiah Pickett – who is also training over the summer with the club.

Hardie was delisted by Geelong at the end of the 2024 season despite winning the club’s VFL Best and Fairest.

The Demons don’t currently have an open list spot.