The Melbourne Demons have continued their excellent pre-season form with a no-nonsense 53-point victory over North Melbourne in Hobart on Saturday afternoon.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
North Melbourne 11.5 (71)
Melbourne 19.10 (124)
We’re a step closer to the 2018 AFL season on Saturday as the JLT Community Series kicks off with North Melbourne hosting Melbourne in Tasmania. None of that zooper goal rubbish – it’s time to get marginally more serious. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 2:05pm AEDT.
The pre-season games look set to get underway with a good contest here as both clubs have picked fairly strong sides that appear close to a full dress rehearsal for Round 1.
Aside from injured players, Taylor Garner and Braydon Preuss are the only real absentees for North, while Melbourne are missing midfielders Jack Viney and Dom Tyson, as well as All-Australian back pocket Neville Jetta.
Both contingents of fans can get excited at the likelihood that they’ll see some new faces in their colours for the first time – although keep in mind that four players will be withdrawn from each squad before the match.
For North Melbourne, it’s a pair of top ten drafts picks in Luke Davies-Uniacke and Paul Ahern who look set to make their first appearance for the club and give Roos fans a hopeful glance of what the future might look like. Former Hawthorn player Billy Hartung is also set to play.
It’ll also be nice to see players like Marley Williams and Ben Jacobs make a return from injury – Jacobs having barely played in the last two year, and Williams being near the top of the Roos’ best and fairest before injury last year.
As for Melbourne: Jake Lever, Jake Lever, Jake Lever. He’s been named to play his first game in the red and blue and if he turns out to be half as good as Melbourne fans hope, he’ll be huge.
Also keep an eye out for Bailey Fritsch, a draftee from Melbourne’s VFL team who is pushing for a Round 1 debut, and Angus Brayshaw, who I reckon is ready to tear the competition a new one in 2018.
Prediction
This could of course change wildly depending on which players sides pull out, but I’ll tip North as they look the closest to full strength, and we all know how matches between these two sides in Tasmania tend to go.
North Melbourne by six points.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 2:05pm AEDT.
Swannies
Guest
Result proves that North are going nowhere in 2018. Demons look good and should contest for finals.
Josh
Expert
That's all from me on this one folks. Stay tuned for my quick takes from the JLT weekend tomorrow night where we'll talk Billy Hartung, Bailey Fritsch and more.
Josh
Expert
Full Time That's the game folks! Melbourne big winners, thank goodness AFLX and JLT don't count towards the streak ;)
North Melbourne: 11.5 (71) Melbourne: 19.10 (124)
Josh
Expert
Goal Christian Salem sets up Tom Bugg who kicks his second.
North Melbourne: 11.4 (70) Melbourne: 19.10 (124)
Josh
Expert
Behind Bailey Fritsch with another shot, a behind though.
North Melbourne: 11.4 (70) Melbourne: 18.10 (118)
Josh
Expert
Goal Corey Maynard with a goal for the Dees.
North Melbourne: 11.4 (70) Melbourne: 18.9 (117)
Josh
Expert
Nice intercept mark from Jake Lever - Dees fans will hope to see plenty of those.
North Melbourne: 11.4 (70) Melbourne: 17.9 (111)
Josh
Expert
Goal Ben Cunnington shows his forward ability - contested mark and a goal close to the sticks.
North Melbourne: 11.4 (70) Melbourne: 17.9 (111)
Josh
Expert
Goal A free kick gives Ben Brown the chance to kick his second goal of the day, and he does it easy.
North Melbourne: 10.4 (64) Melbourne: 17.9 (111)
Josh
Expert
Behind Bailey Fritsch bobs up again but only with a behind.
North Melbourne: 9.4 (58) Melbourne: 17.9 (111)
Lachlan Turner
Guest
I dont think Waite will have much of an impact in 2018
Josh
Expert
Goal A 50m penalty makes a goal for Nick Larkey a mere formality.
North Melbourne: 9.4 (58) Melbourne: 17.8 (110)
Josh
Expert
Goal Bailey Fritsch again! Takes a great mark but does the team thing and provides Maximus Gawn with the assist.
North Melbourne: 8.4 (52) Melbourne: 17.8 (110)
Josh
Expert
Goal Ben Brown sets up Jarrad Waite who runs on and kicks a goal. Hope to see plenty more of that in 2018!
North Melbourne: 8.4 (52) Melbourne: 16.8 (104)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
C'mon North, finish strongly here. The game means little in the grander scheme of things yet they do need to leave the fans with a nice feeling at the end of this quarter. Breeze should help.
Josh
Expert
Goal Fritsch with a third! Good start for him and adding to the chances of a Round 1 debut.
North Melbourne: 7.4 (46) Melbourne: 16.8 (104)
Josh
Expert
Final term underway.
Josh
Expert
Has done a few good things, looks promising.
Josh
Expert
Three-Quarter Time Seven goals to one for the Demons in that quarter and safe to say the result of the game is pretty much foregone now. North will have the wind in the last term and might make up some ground.
North Melbourne: 7.4 (46) Melbourne: 15.8 (98)
Josh
Expert
Goal Bailey Fritsch has a set shot after the siren... and it's a goal! His second of the day.
North Melbourne: 7.4 (46) Melbourne: 15.8 (98)