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I was at the game. Rocked up in jeans and a jacket and ended up sweating and getting a sunburnt face, classic Hobart. Quite windy but not as bad as the two roster matches over the last couple of seasons. I was watching Oscar closely, his body work in the one on ones was very good, his decision making and execution were also good, apart from one handpass that was picked off and they scored from it. Bugg stood out, as did ANB and Harmes. Lever was very instructional, especially when we had the ball locked in our F50, he was organising the backs. Stretch is a running machine, but didn't have a huge impact. All day we just looked a few levels above the opposition, which is a nice change for us demons supporters. Even when they bounced back in the second, you could just tell it wasn't really going to be a contest in the end. Really enjoyed Hibbered making Waite look stupid in the final quarter. That bloke is a gun and I'm stoked we have him.

So much to like about today's performance. What stands out to me is how we look like a team, rather than us relying on certain players to drag us over the line. We have real quality across the field at the moment and you can see that each players in confident in those around him. Lots of players really stood up today - ANB and Harmes were excellent, Salem grew into the game with his field kicking, Jesse kicked 3 and looked dangerous, while our backline worked really well together. Lever will be a gun, but guys like Hibberd aren't far behind him. The second term was a tough one for us but I thought we regrouped well in the conditions and put them away when we had the chance. And Bayley Fritsch has oodles of potential. Can he sneak in for Round 1? It will be tough. Onwards and upwards, great to have the footy back!

I've been saying this all last year and all this preseason, Fritsch will be some sort of player.

I sometimes wonder what people watch. I've been critical of Oscar at times, but he showed his development today. He spoiled well, he's a far better kick than his Brother and hits targets, and he outbodied Brown to win a 1v1 marking contest. He looks stronger and more composed. And he's 3-4 years from his best footy. McDonald takes Brown. Brown is beaten and has a stinker. McDonald is criticised.

Welcome to the Dees Lever..... where we focus on 3 things you did in a 50 point win first practice game of the year and not the other dozen times you made great decisions, made north second guess coming through the middle by floating back or killed contest.

One of the highlights has been Salem's use of the ball.

Seriously? Get over it, he was good by foot today. It's not easy playing last line of defence and he won't win every contest. Most of us would like to see Frost in the team but the fact they chose OMac in the first JLT speaks volumes. Give the kid a break!!!

@Farmer re Lever’s defensive game being “awful.” lol. The wind helping the ball over the back caught him out, sure. How about all the times he played in front and ended up with the ball? Just flukes probably...

We have more talent than GWS, or any other list. Yeah I said it. Debate me.

Hard not to get excited about the year ahead. Means little though, need to do this in round 3. that said, not since Nathan Jones had his first full preseason have I been so excited about the year ahead

Amazing isn't it. Some just can't believe what they see. Oscar has been on a steady improve all through last season.

How times have changed. No early draft pick saviours that need to come in round 1 and guide us back to premiership glory. Instead a mid to late draft pick who played with our affiliate vfl team, where we develop and look after kids, could come in and play a role round 1. Good luck Bailey Fritsch you have been provided an environment where you can excel.

I can't talk this guy up enough. Some of the marks and goals he took last year were unbelievable. If he can emulate that in the AFL he will soon become a fan favourite. Kid is a gun.

Gawns ruckwork, our hunting of the man and our ball transition by foot in a windy day were the general highlights. Harmes and ANB have gone to another level, Salem showed his value in the second half as he worked into it and Fritsch showed his potential to make our forward structure even harder to select for round 1. Only real disappointment for me was Brayshaws execution but we should be just be happy he gets through games at the minute. Also Stretch missing shots he needs to kick as wel tackles he needs to stick I for frustrating, Will be interesting to see the set up for next JLT.

Buggy works bloody hard, that's all I'll say for now. He's definitely earning his way back into the team the hard way.

Easily our best win against North in over ten years.

Looks like all the pre season analysis on DL was correct - we’ve really missed Watts out there

Don't care if its only preseason. LOL @ Essendrug

I was actually impressed with Oscar. Sure he did get done for a few holds but I thought he showed more confidence with his kicking and hit some key targets. There’s gonna be time when he’s playing above his weight but hopefully having someone like Lever there to block up the holes will free him up a bit.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-02-24/match-report-kangaroos-v-demons-jlt1 MELBOURNE mature-age draftee Bayley Fritsch has emphatically boosted his round-one selection chances with a fine performance in attack in the Demons' comprehensive 53-point victory over North Melbourne at Kingston Twins Ovals in Tasmania on Saturday. The word out of Melbourne is that Fritsch, 21, has been earmarked for an opening round debut after an impressive summer, and the spring-heeled forward gave every indication that that will be the case with an impressive first-up display.

Very happy with ANB, Harmes, Bugg and Fritzl. Hogan looks fresh, Lever will improve us no end. Gawn’s taps were exquisite. Good hitout overall.

Unfortunate for a host of guys who stood up that are going to have to make way for Viney, Garlett etc. fierce competition for spots. Ripper

Ron L?

ANB has easily been our most improved player over the last 18 months. He's quickly making himself an indispensable member of our side.

Anyone who thinks Nibbler isn't in our best 22 is crazy.

$5 full strength cans. Winning.

So, it was 33 degrees on the parts of the field that the drug rehab team played, but cooler where the reigning premiers played???

He went in a few times last preseason. The first time he went in the middle got 3 clearances in a row. Also a game against Port he got a couple too. So I’m not sure “hasn’t worked” is correct.

I agree with most of your analysis Dee, but this is a head scratcher. It's the JLT series and we've flagged that we want to use Jesse in the midfield a little more. It's the perfect time to trial it when there are no points up for grabs and losing a couple of centre clearances means nothing. If the experiment doesn't work, then I assume we don't do it much at all in the future. It's harmless to do it now. To suggest sticking him in there a little today makes a mockery of getting rid of Jack Watts, that he's out laziest trainer etc is one of the most bizzare things I've read on here. Seems like an outrageous over-reaction to me.

Liked what I saw. Clinical by foot in windy conditions speaks volumes about where this team is at compared with 3 seasons ago. The list is looking very balanced and if we stay injury free over the next month the Rd 1 team will be a ripper and so will Casey’s.

Backline: Lever was sensational - it's just a matter of how to get him, Hibberd and Hunt in the best positions and surrounded by the right players. Oscar started slowly and was lucky Brown was off early but he got stronger as the game went on and he's a nice kick around the ground. Bernie and Wagner both started poorly and improved Lewis was good, but not 100% DE! Brayshaw looked solid off half back Predicted 7 for Rd 1: Oscar, Lever, Hunt, Hibberd, Jetta, Lewis, 1 of Brayshaw/Wagner/Vince Midfield: Gawn was great. Clarry started slow but built up. Jones' fast kicking in space was great after some early rust. Petracca explosive. Salem silky. Harmes consistent and strong. Stretch not strong enough but his run opened up great options, it's a matter of weighing up what he produced. Maynard crash and bash and not far off it. Predicted 8 for round 1: Gawn, Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Jones, Salem, Harmes, 1of Tyson/Stretch Forwards: Tommy presented hard. Hogan had some great moments and leapt well and looked to impress at the drop of the ball. Fritsch was flighty early but classy, his attacking game looks up to standard, it's just a matter of what he can bring defensively. ANB very solid. Melksham with some quality. Bugg worked hard all game. Hannan did some nice things. Pedersen limited game time it seemed. Predicted 7 for round 1: T Mc, Hogan, ANB, Melksham, 3 of Hannan/Bugg/Garlett/Fritsch

The same Jono that said he thinks we will finish top 4?

The seats had moss growing on them from the cold and rain. After a close game it would take an hour to get out of car park. The centre had a mound so that you could not see the other wing. The stands were shallow and not angled up properly. It was extremely ugly and unfinished for a good reason. It was in a rain band. Indefensible.

I think Omac has been very good today.

OMac has been good today.

I think Harmes could be a lock for Round 1.

We have so much quality on every line. Very strange feeling as a Melbourne supporter.

So what you’re really saying is that by dishing it off, he has more or less made it impossible to be left out of round 1 ?

One super impressive thing about Fritsch's game was that he had the EASIEST of chances to put his head down and kick a 4th goal, and more-or-less make it impossible to leave him out of Round 1. But he still chose to dish it off. Goodwin would have loved that.

I'm not sure the playing of Jesse in the midfield is an experiment in testing him out as. midfielder. I have a feeling it is only going to be used to get him into games when things aren't going his way or to unbalance opposition match ups at the start of games/quarters. They're probably giving him more time in the middle during JLTs to get him used to our midfield under match conditions.

You don't understand the modern game. Lever is the general who is the zone king. Yes, he'll occasionally get caught out, but his reading of the play is his greatest asset. He could easily play tight and be a lesser player. But that wouldn't make a lot of sense would it ?

ANB , Harmes and Fritsch have booked their round one spots after what I’ve seen of them this pre season

It’s been a while since you could say we have some great foot skills. Considering the conditions our efficiency was superb.

Class on every line and had the game on our terms most of the time. Very, very hard not to be excited right now. Time to sign up for those who have been holding back!

I would like to see frost get a go down back in the next jlt and give Omac a rest.

I love Salem so much. Just a class above.

Lever is A+

Really enjoy seeing no.4 throw his body into the contest.

I can't stand Huddo. He should be no where near a commentary box. Useless little pr*ck.

Hopefully Fritsch is named in the final squad. Spaghetti arms be damned, this kid has something special.