Christian Salem and Jesse Hogan shine in Melbourne’s intra-club match, Nathan Jones and Bernie Vince rested

JACK Viney says Jesse Hogan “could be anything” and Christian Salem has taken his game to another level as the pair starred in Melbourne’s intra-club match.

Melbourne Intraclub Practice Match at Casey Fields. Christian Salem . Pic: Michael Klein

MELBOURNE midfield star Jack Viney says key forward Jesse Hogan “could be anything” for the Demons this year as he declared the team was ready to take another step forward in 2016.

Hogan was among those to impress in Friday’s intra-club practice match at Casey Fields in Cranbourne, finishing with four second-half goals.

The Demons’ leading goalkicker last season waged an entertaining match-up with Lynden Dunn before getting on top in the second half on the back of some cleaner delivery.

Viney said Hogan, the 2015 Rising Star, had benefited from a strong pre-season.

“Jesse had a really good day, especially in the second half when we started getting the ball moving a bit better and started getting a few better deliveries and he started finding the footy a bit more and kick some goals,’’ Viney said.

“He looks like he’s in good nick. He has had an impressive pre-season and (he’s) ready for a good year.

“I think he can be very good. I know he has got the ability to be.

“Myself as midfielder, if we can get the ball moving the right way, it’s going to make his job a whole lot easier and then who knows, he could be anything.’’

Half-back Christian Salem was another to shine in the scratch match as the Demons warmed up for their opening NAB Challenge clash against Port Adelaide next Saturday.

Viney, who also in the thick of the midfield action throughout the match, believed Salem had taken his game to another level over the pre-season.

“He has always been a terrific player for us, but he has probably struggled consistently with his body, had a few niggles, a few hammies,’’ Viney said.

“He has had a really good pre-season and he obviously showed that today he’s ready to have a good season.’’

Jesse Hogan got the better of Lynden Dunn to kick four second-half goals in Melbourne’s intra-club game. Picture: Michael Klein

The Demons rested captain Nathan Jones and best-and-fairest Bernie Vince from the hitout, but Viney expected them to be available for the first pre-season match.

“It’s just simply a load thing for them and we probably didn’t need to bring them out in these conditions this early,’’ Viney said.

“They will be around pretty soon.’’

After finishing 13th with seven wins for the season last year, Viney was confident the Demons were ready to take another step forward this season.

Asked how much improvement was in the team for 2016, Viney declared “heaps”.

“I think we have got a long way to go to reach those top teams, but I’ve got no doubt that our ability to play against the top teams is there,’’ the father-son ace said.

“We’ve just got to find the consistency and bring it out every week.’’

For the NAB Challenge at least, the focus for the team will be on consistency.

“(We want to) continue to build on our game plan and our game style,’’ Viney said.

“I thought today was a terrific step forward and I feel like we’re ready to start taking on some other teams and putting up our game style against other teams.’’

Originally published as Christian Salem and Jesse Hogan shine in Melbourne’s intra-club match, Nathan Jones and Bernie Vince rested