Melbourne have made light work of St Kilda in the first half of Friday’s unofficial practice match at Moorabbin, leading 46–105 at the end of the fourth quarter.
In windy conditions at the home of the Saints, it was the Demons who found themselves 59 points up when most of the AFL sides went off at the end of the fourth, with a mix of the club’s VFL and AFL stocks continuing to play another four x 25-minute periods.
Entering 2023 as a genuine premiership contender, the Demons looked every bit of a top side as they dominated an undermanned St Kilda outfit across the entirety of the ground.
In Ross Lyon’s first test since re-joining the club, his Saints probably never stood a chance given the experience and class on Melbourne’s list while missing the likes of Max King, Tim Membrey, Zak Jones, Daniel McKenzie and Jack Hayes from his own squad.
Given it was both sides first hit outs, all eyes were on those wearing the colours for the first time with Liam Stocker, Zaine Cordy, Brody Grundy and Lachie Hunter all making their first appearances for a second club with each pushing their cases for Round 1 selection.
With stars, new faces and youngsters all catching the attention, here are the main takeaways from Friday’s clash.
St Kilda are going to struggle up forward early on
St Kilda entered Friday’s clash without Max King, Tim Membrey and Jack Hayes.
With their best key tall options out, Zaine Cordy and Dougal Howard spent time as the primary option inside 50.
Given that duo typically spend their time at the other end of the ground, Saints fans wouldn’t have been surprised that they were soundly beaten aerially heading inside 50 on Friday.
While Tim Membrey looks set to return for the season-opener after a knee cleanout, the absence of King will likely be one the Saints can’t simply paper over early on.
As the star forward is set to miss the opening two months of the season, don’t expect the Saints to burst out of the blocks early with big scores.
Lachie Hunter and Ed Langdon could be the game’s best wing combination
Melbourne recruit Lachie Hunter looks like he’ll slot straight into Simon Goodwin’s side for Round 1.
The former Bulldog was picked up for a future third-round pick over the trade period and going off Friday’s performance, that looks to be a bargain.
With Ed Langdon locked into one wing, Hunter and his left boot look set to fill the other with the 28-year-old’s smarts and silky skills standing out against the Saints.
Given Langdon’s standing as perhaps the best wingman in the competition already and Hunter coming to the club as a premiership and best and fairest winner, who is to say they’re not the best outside combination in the AFL?
If Hunter continues to play in the same fashion come the season proper, you can’t see the Demons being beaten on the open expanses very often.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera could be set for a breakout season
Second-year Saint Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was all class on Friday night.
Playing in the backline, the Saints looked to use last year’s No. 11 pick’s kicking heading out of defence.
Taking the kick outs and racking up multiple rebound 50s, the silky user looks like he’s set for a big role under Ross Lyon.
While Wanganeen-Milera probably looms as a future wingman, having him cut his teeth in his second season off half-back could be the perfect platform for the youngster to become a future star of the competition.
Alongside the impressive Marcus Windhager and Mitch Owens, expect the young St Kilda trio to be fan favourites for years to come.
Gawn and Grundy formidable despite being a work in progress
Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn were always going to be the best ruck combination in the league.
That’s obvious given how much the duo have dominated recent All-Australian selections, and while they didn’t exactly dominate against the Saints, there were glimpses of what they could become once they gel.
Gawn is clearly the more versatile of the two, but having an A-grade ruckman in the middle after every goal gives the Demons a distinct advantage.
Already one of the competition’s best centre clearance sides, Melbourne could be even better given the service that their midfield will get, particularly when the opposition backup has to face either Demon.
There may be an argument to not spend such a portion of your salary cap on one position, but Melbourne without doubt have a distinct advantage that no other team in the competition can match.
SCORE TO THE END OF Q4
St Kilda: 2.1, 2.3, 5.8, 6.10. (45)
Melbourne: 3.3, 8.6, 10.7, 16.9. (105)
GOALS
St Kilda: Phillipou 2, Byrnes, Cordy, Windhager, Steele
Melbourne: Petracca 3, Brown 2, Pickett 2, Gawn 2, Hunter, Neal-Bullen, Chandler, McDonald, Langdon, Grundy, Rivers