By Andrew Wu and Jon Pierik
The news
After a hellish summer, this was the night Melbourne needed.
An off-season spent lurching from controversy to controversy finished with a timely reminder the Demons actually have a damn good football team.
Max Gawn put on a masterclass, his midfield sliced through Carlton’s zone like butter, and their forward line was unrecognisable to the mess that finished last year.
It’s not even March but there was much to like about their 38-point over the Blues, who did little to convince doubters they can cover the chasm left by injured defensive general Jacob Weitering.
Gawn has spent the summer putting out spot fires, but on this occasion he was setting his team alight with a dominant display in the ruck.
The Dees midfield dined out on the deft tap work of their captain, who dismantled a noticeably underdone Marc Pittonet, constantly putting the Blues’ defence under siege.
The speculative long bombs which became an unwanted feature of their game were replaced by clean and incisive ball movement, opening up gaping holes in Carlton’s back half.
Jacob Van Rooyen was a dependable focal point in attack, while Josh Schache bobbed up with two goals. He will get chances with Harrison Petty and Shane McAdam set to miss the start of the season.
“We had some great passages of play tonight,” Demons assistant coach Andrew McQualter said. “We were able to put some score on the board. Anytime you score 100 points it’s a good result against a quality defence like Carlton as well.”
Caleb Windsor, pick seven in last year’s draft, gave more than the occasional glimpse of class, booting two fine goals playing on a wing and half-forward. He could be a round zero bolter.
New Demon Caleb Windsor with a great goal on the run.Credit: Fox Footy
“He’s really giving himself every chance, hasn’t he?” McQualter said.
The Blues took small forward Jesse Motlop out of the game at quarter-time after he jarred a toe, but the club says his withdrawal was out of precaution.
What you need to know
It will be all hands on deck for the Blues to cover Weitering in the first two rounds. They were particularly vulnerable to the high ball, giving up 20 marks inside 50 to a forward line that has struggled in this department.
Lewis Young and Brodie Kemp are capable backmen, but neither has Weitering’s authority in the air, though Kemp’s second half was much better than his first.
Sam Durdin could challenge Young for a spot but with Caleb Marchbank also in doubt for the opening round there are not many proven tall options at the Blues’ disposal.
Their best plan may well be to shield their backs from another onslaught. It will be a Navy Blue bloodbath at the Gabbatoir if they expose their defence to another 65 inside 50s.
Patrick Cripps was a clear top pick for the Blues in a well beaten midfield, winning seven clearances in his 26-disposal game. Sam Docherty provided run but Adam Cerra and George Hewett had little impact. Sam Walsh’s absence is already noticeable.
Patrick Cripps after booting a goal.Credit: Getty Images
Expert’s view
It’s still Charlie, Harry or bust in the Blues’ forward line. Both kicked three goals but McKay was clearly the better of the duo, signing off on an impressive summer with 18 disposals and 10 marks.
McKay’s kicking for goal still needs work. He nearly missed the boot with one kick, a shank which went out on the full from about 40 metres out, and he squandered another shot from about 30 metres.
The Blues will look to try the 2021 Coleman medallist as a second ruck this year, possibly as early as next week depending on Pittonet’s progress. McKay has the agility, speed and hands to play that role for a few minutes a quarter.
“It certainly gives us a lot of flexibility with ‘H’ to be able to support that that second ruck position but then be really influential forward,” Blues senior assistant coach Ash Hansen said.
“If we need him to get there five or seven minutes a quarter it really helps us create speed in other positions or complement and support the ruck position.
“Harry’s starting to develop that side of his game, which is really important for us to have versatility and selection, and for his game as well.”
Pittonet played the first half then spent the half-time break doing more conditioning and ball work.
Key players
Max Gawn
The champion ruckman is in for a big season if this game is any guide. His tap work was high class, while also having a presence in the air in general play, taking an equal game-high three contested marks. He also booted two goals to go with 24 possessions. He can expect stiffer opposition next week against former teammate Brodie Grundy.
Max Gawn gets in the mood.Credit: Getty Images
Tom Sparrow
With Angus Brayshaw retired and uncertainty over Clayton Oliver, the Dees need another midfielder to help Christian Petracca and Jack Viney – and they may have found him. Now into his sixth season, Sparrow gave an indication he can make the step from a depth midfielder to a midfield driver with 20 touches and three goals.
Patrick Cripps
Though his side was well beaten in the clinches, the skipper was excellent. Unfortunately for the Blues, they will not get the full value of Cripps’s work in the pack until Walsh returns to bring the hard run away from the stoppage.
Charlie Curnow
The back-to-back Coleman medallist hits the start line with a few question marks over his form. Three goals and three contested marks look ok on the stats sheet but he is not playing with the energy of the past two years. Perhaps he needs the thrill of having premiership points on the line.
What’s next
The Demons have the privilege of kicking off the season against Sydney at the SCG on Thursday night, while the Blues take on Brisbane the following evening at the Gabba.
More reading
CARLTON 2.0, 4.0, 8.2, 10.3 (63)
MELBOURNE 5.1 9.4 12.7 15.11 (101)
GOALS - Carlton: Curnow 3, McKay 3, Boyd, Cripps, Cuningham, Acres. Melbourne: Sparrow 3, Gawn 2, Windsor 2, Schache 2, Chandler, van Rooyen, Pickett, Fritsch, Neal-Bullen, Billings
BEST - Carlton: McKay, Hewett, Saad, Docherty
Melbourne: Gawn, Viney, Sparrow, Neal-Bullen
Oliver gets through, no certainty for round zero
Jon Pierik, Andrew Wu
Melbourne star Clayton Oliver is far from a certainty to play in the opening round despite getting through a practice match unscathed on Wednesday.
Oliver and Carlton defender Zac Williams both staked their claims for senior selection in the reserves practice match in the morning, leaving their respective coaches with big calls to make in the coming week.
Making a claim: Clayton Oliver played in a VFL practice match on Wednesday, and is pushing for opening-round selection.Credit: Getty Images
Oliver was in good touch, often weaving his way through traffic or clearing the ball in congestion, ensuring the Demons’ match committee will have to debate whether he plays in the season opener against Sydney next Thursday.
“I feel good,” Oliver said as he entered the dressing room.
A four-time best and fairest winner, Oliver is walk-up start when fully fit but there are questions whether he is ready after a summer interrupted by injury and time off to deal with personal issues.
Demons coach Simon Goodwin said a decision on Oliver’s availability to face Sydney in the season-opener would not be made until next week.
“We just wanted to get through today and we’ll go away and discuss as a footy club,” Goodwin said on Fox Footy.
“We want to set him up for the year and make sure he’s ready to hit the year fully ready to go. We’ll make a decision (on opening round selection) throughout the week.”
“I want to have a chat with our leaders and want to have a chat with everyone. He’s physically prepared and getting going, so we’ll just have a look at how he pulls up.”
Williams returned to action in his comeback from an ACL injury that ruined his 2023 season. The dashing half-back played limited minutes, but had six touches in the first term, including four inside the opening 10 minutes.
“It was good to be out there,” Williams said.
“First game in 18 months – I only played 65 minutes, but it was good to be out there. I loved it.”
Williams hasn’t played at AFL level since round 23, 2022, and played only nine games that season after rupturing his Achilles tendon.
Midfielder Matthew Kennedy also played in the VFL clash, booting two goals, while Irish recruit Rob Monahan showed glimpses of class.
Veteran midfielder Matthew Kennedy also played in the VFL clash, booting two goals, while Irish recruit Rob Monahan showed glimpses of class.
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