SuperCoach scouting report: Who starred in weekend AFL intra-club matches

SEVEN AFL clubs were in action over the weekend — who starred, and which players put up their hand for SuperCoach selection?

Carlton Blues Intra-Club Session

SEVEN AFL clubs have lifted the curtain on new recruits, new tactics and players who might be tried in new positions this season.

Intra-club games (and one exhibition match) offer a limited sample so it’s wise not to get too carried away just yet, but it does give us something to go on when making predictions for the year ahead — and picking our SuperCoach squads.

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Here is the best info we gathered from week one of AFL 2015 action.

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RICHMOND

Match simulation, Friday

— Jack Riewoldt ($450,800 fwd) was the dominant forward with five goals. Liam McBean ($123,900 fwd) kicked three

— Rookie Kane Lambert ($102,400 mid/fwd) kicked two goals and is clearly the fan favourite to take the final vacancy on the Tigers’ senior list before Round 1

— Brett Deledio ($553,300 mid/fwd) played the full game after the club admitted he had lingering Achilles soreness, also kicking two goals

— Dustin Martin ($534,400 mid/fwd) “was dominant through the midfield” according to the Tigers website

— No injuries reported

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Dane Swan is back. Completely dominant here. Running like yesteryear, ripping balls from stoppages and kicking goals. #piesintra

— Sam Edmund (@SammyHeraldSun) February 19, 2015

COLLINGWOOD

Intra-club match, Thursday night

— Scott Pendlebury ($668,800 mid) made a seamless return from shoulder surgery with 28 disposals (including 19 handballs)

— Travis Varcoe ($357,100 def) shapes as a handy inclusion after picking up 19 disposals

— Nathan Freeman ($123,900 mid) had 21 disposals, six marks and a goal

— No.5 draft pick Jordan De Goey ($202,300 mid) had plenty of it, gathering 24 disposals

— Dane Swan ($464,500 mid/fwd) was the star with 21 disposals, five clearances and two goals, playing off a wing and through midfield

— Nathan Brown ($146,900 def) was a late withdrawal after suffering a corked leg at training

WEST COAST v INDIGENOUS ALL-STARS

Friday night

— Hard to read too much into this one with the Eagles fielding a very inexperienced line-up and plenty of the best Indigenous players also missing

— Hawk Shaun Burgoyne ($506,500 mid/def) won the Graham “Polly” Farmer Medal for best on ground

— Stephen Hill ($516,600 mid), Jarrod Harbrow ($438,800 def) and Jack Martin ($303,400 fwd) all caught the eye

— Eagles draftee Tom Lamb ($117,300 fwd) is one to watch. He slid to pick 32 on draft night and nailed a tight set shot in final term to secure the win

— West Coast was missing a string of key players including skipper Shannon Hurn, Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis, Nic Naitanui, Eric Mackenzie, Josh Kennedy and Mark LeCras

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ST KILDA

Intra-club match, Saturday

— No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin ($222,300 fwd) did some nice things early including kicking a set-shot goal, but was rested for the final third

— He has some competition for the second tall forward spot beside Nick Riewoldt (who was rested) with Spencer White ($146,200 fwd) and Tom Lee ($240,100 fwd) each kicking two goals

— Hugh Goddard ($122,300 def/fwd) played at centre half-back on Tim Membrey ($172,000 fwd). Membrey is a massive unit and Goddard isn’t far behind. Both had their moments in a scrappy game.

— Jack Newnes ($436,800 def/mid) played in the middle and had plenty of the ball

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Jack Newnes everywhere. Collecting pill at will thru midfield

— Jock Reynolds (@jock_reynolds) February 21, 2015

— Jack Billings ($382,200 fwd) stood out with his classy ball use. Expect to see a lot more of him in the midfield this year

— Sam Fisher ($445,100 def) and Jarryn Geary ($332,400 def), both returning from long-term injuries, mopped up everything across half-back

— Daniel Markworth ($123,900 fwd) was the only injury worry, finishing game with ice on his shoulder after a heavy knock

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Nice day for an intra-club hitout at Seaford. Billings, Geary, Newnes looked good #saintsvsaints pic.twitter.com/6ay3yQzpm5

— Al Paton (@al_superfooty) February 21, 2015

CARLTON

Intra-club match, Friday

— Matthew Watson ($298,500 def/fwd) could be the answer to the Blues’ forward problems, kicking six goals

— Clem Smith ($117,300 mid), taken at pick 60 in November’s national draft, impressed playing as a small forward, with assistant coach Rob Wiley describing him as a “ready made player”

— Blaine Boekhorst ($132,300 mid) played off half-back and wasn’t afraid to take the opposition on, drilling a goal on the run from outside 50

Matty Watson has kicked six at #cfcintra roaming inside 50m. Some strong grabs, long goals. He's got his critics but plenty to like today.

— Sam Edmund (@SammyHeraldSun) February 20, 2015

— Patrick Cripps ($211,400 mid) was a “dominant force” in the middle, according to the Blues website. The Blues’ top draft pick from 2013 is flying in his second AFL pre-season

— Dale Thomas ($406,600 fwd/mid) appears to be moving a lot more freely than last season

— There was an injury scare for Troy Menzel ($272,400 fwd), who copped a corked quad and went straight to the rooms

— Bryce Gibbs, Matthew Kreuzer, Chris Yarran, Andrew Walker and Sam Docherty were among those missing in action

Carlton midfielder Patrick Cripps in the thick of the action.

MELBOURNE

Intra-club match, Thursday

— The Demons’ great white hope Jesse Hogan ($130,400 fwd) kicked first goal of the game and finished with three

— Former Blue Jeff Garlett ($259,200 fwd) kicked four goals

— Christian Salem ($185,000 fwd), who started as the sub in five of his 12 games last season, was a standout with his pinpoint kicking and could be set for a new role this season playing off half-back.

— Draftee Billy Stretch ($117,300 mid) showed enough to suggest he could see senior action this year despite his skinny frame

Jesse Hogan looking sharp in @melbournefc intraclub at Casey Fields. Booted two in the first quarter and presenting as a marking target

— Warwick Green (@_WarwickGreen) February 19, 2015

— Nathan Jones ($581,200 mid), Dom Tyson ($506,200 mid) and Jack Viney ($399,600 mid) won plenty of the footy

— Heritier Lumumba ($417,000 def/mid) started in the centre square but ended the game in more familiar territory in defence

— No.3 draft pick Angus Brayshaw ($212,300 mid) copped a head knock and had a black eye after the game

— Missing players included Jack Watts, Jeremy Howe, Bernie Vince and rookie Aaron Vandenberg

Christian Salem swings on to his left boot. Picture:Wayne Ludbey

FREMANTLE

Intra-club match, Saturday

— The “purples” beat the “whites” 16.9 (105) to 0.4 (4) in what was evidently a one-sided affair!

— With no Matthew Pavlich, Ross Lyon tried Aaron Sandilands, Zac Clarke, Michael Apeness and Matt Taberner deep in attack. None stood out as the obvious heir apparent

— Chris Mayne ($382,100 fwd) played in defence for the whites

— Michael Johnson ($486,500 def) showed he has recovered from back surgery, starring in defence before being rested in the second half, along with Michael Walters

— Hayden Crozier ($301,000 fwd) kicked four goals playing on a wing

— The biggest name to appear on the day wasn’t actually playing, with Nat Fyfe ($657,600 mid) ramping up his recovery from a hamstring injury with a series of 400m springs before the game. He is set to make an earlier than expected return in the NAB Challenge

Originally published as SuperCoach scouting report: Who starred in weekend AFL intra-club matches