LIGHTNING delays struck twice in Ballarat, cancelling the practice match between Melbourne and Richmond with 14 minutes to go in the third quarter.
The Demons led 12.6 (78) to 6.7 (43) when a second break in play was called at 6:15pm, exactly two hours after the first delay at 4:15pm amid stormy conditions, although no rain fell throughout the game.
The first term ran for about 68 minutes and featured 10 goals between the two teams, and there were numerous strikes sighted from afar throughout the game.
It was a match played at a hectic pace, with both sides looking to play on and lacking composure at times.
For the second week in a row, Caleb Windsor was outstanding through the middle, his class on show with ball in hand and deft touches around the field.
It was the full Tom Lynch experience, the Richmond veteran shaking off the rust in his first hitout for the year, kicking two, crashing packs and giving away the occasional free kick. After a few years of injury, he was moving at a better clip than in seasons’ past.
Jayden Short led all-comers with 20 disposals in the shortened game, providing plenty of drive off half-back, while Sam Lalor’s clearance work was excellent, and he had sharp hands in tight.
Melbourne found plenty of opportunities to hit the scoreboard, kicking 12 goals in just over a half of footy, with Windsor, Trent Rivers and Max Gawn key conduits to the scoreboard.
It was Gawn’s first crack at the new ruck rules, and it didn’t seem to faze the veteran in the slightest (despite his commentary in the past few weeks) recording 21 hitouts to Toby Nankervis’ 15, and occasionally opting to spike the ball forward of congestion.
Mykelti Lefau’s club suspension for drink driving has left a gaping second ruck hole for Richmond, with the lightly framed 195cm Campbell Gray forced to face Gawn and Tom McDonald. He demonstrated a nice leap, but the Dees feasted on his inexperience.
New faces
Experienced midfielder Jack Steele (11 disposals, seven tackles) was the unsurprising pick of the new faces, providing a strong body around the contest and out-thinking Lalor on a few occasions with his positioning. Changkuoth Jiath (15 touches) found plenty of the ball at half-back but his disposal was iffy at times.
Richmond draftees Sam Grlj and Sam Cumming were the only fresh players in its side, and both showed off plenty of pace with ball in hand.
Round one chance
Latrelle Pickett wasn’t as damaging as he was against North Melbourne, but kicked a goal and should still be on track for a round one debut. While Max Heath didn’t play, he still could be in with a chance for a Melbourne debut depending on the severity of Luker Kentfield’s knee injury.
Grlj should continue to push for a round one debut against Carlton, recording 11 disposals, and Cumming caught the eye until his untimely injury. Kane McAuliffe has been in and out of Richmond’s side for the past few years, but was one of the Tigers’ best in a wing role – he may have to overcome a possible MRO citation first, having collected Kentfield with a clumsy spoil.
Medical room
Promising Melbourne key forward Kentfield‘s day finished in the opening few minutes, copping an accidental whack to the back of the head and landing awkwardly, injuring his knee. He was later cleared of concussion, but was sent to hospital for scans on his knee. Draftee Cumming needs scans on his right shoulder, which was already strapped before the game.
Fantasy watch
Caleb Windsor (DEF, $565,000) showed he may be the man to step up in the Demons’ midfield. The No.7 pick in the 2023 draft, Windsor was electric and attended plenty of centre bounces. He was on 56 points when the game was abandoned early in the second half. Jack Steele (MID, $1,006,000) showed why he is a popular option this pre-season, leading the Dees with 62 points as their midfield anchor. Trent Rivers (DEF, $865,000) scored 56 points in just 38 per cent time on ground, while Tiger Sam Banks (DEF, $831,000) had 50 in 42 per cent. A popular option a year ago, Jayden Short (DEF, $913,000) had 79 points at the time of abandonment as he controlled proceedings in defence, while Sam Grlj (DEF/MID, $322,000) had excellent patches on his way to 39. First-year Tiger Sam Cumming (MID, $326,000) suffered a shoulder injury and was withdrawn early. – Dejan Kalinic
MELBOURNE 7.2 11.6 12.6 (78)
RICHMOND 3.1 5.5 6.7 (43)
GOALS
Melbourne: van Rooyen 3, Langford, Gawn, Chandler, Sharp, Tholstrop, Laurie, Windsor, Fritsch, L.Pickett
Richmond: Lynch 2, Rioli, Mansell, Hopper, Ralphsmith
BEST
Melbourne: Windsor, Gawn, Rivers, van Rooyen, K. Pickett, Steele
Richmond: McAuliffe, Taranto, Lalor, Hopper, Rioli
INJURIES
Melbourne: Kentfield (knee)
Richmond: Cumming (shoulder)
