He played permanently forward, with rucks Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox swapping mostly off the bench, and was arguably the standout for the Pies in the first half.

Pies assistant Hayden Skipworth said McStay would be a valuable asset, particularly given Brody Mihocek had to come back into the side after missing the scratch match with back soreness.

“It’s going to be awesome. We were rapt to get him,” Skipworth said.

“It was disappointing that Mihocek was a late scratching; if it was round one, Mihocek plays.

“But it’ll be good to see them both together. They both move, they both compete hard, so it’s going to give our forward line a different dynamic.”

Ash Johnson entered the match in the second half, but had limited impact. Skipworth said the Pies would continue to tinker with their mix of talls, even early into the season.

“We won’t know by round one; that’s something we’ll work through during the year,” he said.

De Koning impresses
At the other end, Tom De Koning showed what he was capable of, taking two speccies and kicking a goal, while also offering plenty in the ruck. He complemented Harry McKay, who was dominant against Pies recruit Billy Frampton, kicking three majors. Clarke said De Koning, in particular, was super. “The best thing about Tommy De Koning’s game was how reliable he was in the ruck,” Clarke said. “But also when he went forward, he provided a really good contest. That’s his role, he’s a reliable player when he plays that way.”

Spot up for grabs
The battle for Jack Ginnivan’s vacant spot in the forward line, for the first two weeks of the season at least, is being hotly contested.

Beau McCreery did his spot no harm, while former Giant Bobby Hill showed glimpses to suggest he will play round one.

But the big sighting came from Reef McInnes, who played six games in 2022 but couldn’t tie down a permanent spot.

The 20-year-old showed a touch of class across the half-forward line, and at 194 centimetres offers good size for a medium tall, particularly given the loss of Ollie Henry to Geelong.

Will Hoskin-Elliott started forward but ended up at half-back by the end.

Midfield depth
Carlton fans were quickly reminded what the Blues midfield can look like when it has a near-fully fit list at their disposal.

While Sam Walsh remains on the sidelines, the Blues welcomed back Matthew Kennedy and George Hewett, who both missed games at the pointy end of last season.

Lining up alongside Cripps and Adam Cerra, the Blues matched Collingwood’s bolstered on-ball brigade, feeding supply to McKay in particular. Sam Docherty also started at some centre bounces in the second half.

The Pies ran a number of players through the midfield. Jordan De Goey, Taylor Adams, and Jack Crisp got plenty of minutes at the centre stoppages, Scott Pendlebury and Nick Daicos rotated off half-back, and Patrick Lipinski and Tom Mitchell rotated through half-forward with De Goey and Adams respectively.

Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom played just the first half, with highly touted winger Ed Allan coming into the game in the third term. Skipworth described the long list of options as “a good problem to have”, noting the Pies want to get a lot more midfield minutes into Nick Daicos this season.

Demons hit their straps in 10-goal win over Saints

Roy Ward

Melbourne assistant coach Troy Chaplin says his team’s midfielders are “licking their lips” at the ruck combination between Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy.

Grundy made his Demons debut alongside a very impressive Lachie Hunter as the premiership fancies had a cruisy win over St Kilda in match simulation at Moorabbin on Friday night.

Under the heat of the summer sun instead of the bright lights of the MCG, the Saints looked well off pace against the Demons who were wasteful early before hitting their straps in a 59-point win.

Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Kysaiah Pickett were among the best while Grundy did well in his time in the ruck and Hunter linked with teammates in moving the ball from defence into attack having a hand in several such moves.

Both players kicked goals in the final term to add to their debuts.

“It’s still a work in progress with Brodie as well, the relationship between him and Gawny is going to evolve over the course of the year, but obviously we saw Maxy kick a couple today,” Chaplin said.

“All we wanted from Brodie was a marking contest from him and when he is around the ball his follow up and tackling was a real highlight today.

“He still gives us first use when he is in there so we’re fortunate that it doesn’t matter who is in there [Gawn or Grundy], our mids will be licking their lips.”

Chaplin was just as excited about Hunter who looks an ideal fit in the midfield mix.

“Lachie gives us a different look, he is a left-footer, very switched on and uses the ball so well,” Chaplin said.

“We’ve been rapt with him since he walked into the club. He’s going to add a lot to us this year.”

Grundy held strong in a couple of crunching marking contests, he and Demons skipper Gawn tried to pull in the same mark early in the third period before Grundy begged off.

The thought of a top-form Grundy with the Demons’ midfield is a scary one for the rest of the competition.

The Saints under new coach Ross Lyon had moments of slick play but were otherwise run over by the quality of Melbourne’s disposals and the direction, deliberate nature of their ball movement.

Saints assistant coach Corey Enright said his side would learn a lot from facing the Demons.

Pickett and Petracca both showed their ability to beat the clock remained strong with Pickett snapping a goal just before the first period ended and Petracca doing similar in the second period.

The two clubs scheduled eight periods of play with the two senior sides playing the first four before the teams switched to reserves sides and top-up VFL players for the last four periods.

First goal for Saints draftee

First-round pick Mattaes Phillipou had a memorable moment in the third period when he took a mark in the forward line and went back to kick his first goal at AFL level.

The South Australian teenager was mobbed by his teammates. It was a nice warm-up for the player although the mobbing will surely be repeated when his chance comes to kick truly at senior level.

He followed that goal with a pack mark and goal in the fourth period.

Baby time for Campbell

Saints ruckman Tom Campbell was a game day withdrawal as his partner was due to give birth to their baby.

Max Heath took more of the ruck duties in place of Campbell for the undersized Saints and was serrenated with calls of “Moose” when he collected possessions.

He took a knock to his leg and left the ground but returned late on.

Richmond prizes worth the price

Ronny Lerner

The hefty price that Richmond paid during last year’s trade period to snare former Greater Western Sydney duo Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper already looks worth it.

Hellbent on remaining in the premiership window, and adding a fourth flag to their golden generation’s resume, the Tigers gave up picks 12 and 19 for Taranto, as well as a 2023 first-round pick and pick 31 for Hopper.

Granted, Richmond might’ve been playing the reigning back-to-back wooden spooners North Melbourne in a six-period practice match in February, but the early signs that the Richmond faithful saw from Taranto and Hopper would’ve got them very excited indeed.

Particularly Taranto.

The 2019 GWS best and fairest was the standout on Friday morning at Arden Street and had a huge impact in the midfield. He gathered possessions at will as he wasted little time in putting his class and exquisite skills on show.

Taranto also went forward, kicking a pair of goals, including a sensational banana from the boundary in the second term, and could’ve finished the game with four majors considering he hit the post twice.

Hopper also impressed, with his composure and clean delivery to the forward line conspicuous.

As part of the Tigers’ new-look midfield, the former Giants combined beautifully with an established bull in Dion Prestia who picked up where he left off last year by having a huge influence as he too gathered a stack of disposals.

The 2019 All-Australian was a constant threat and his work around the contest was excellent, but he also covered a lot of ground, popping up for a beautiful goal from the boundary line in the second stanza.

The additions of Taranto and Hopper to the engine room have given Richmond the luxury of moving former captain Trent Cotchin to the forward line, where he looked dangerous, setting up goals and snaring one himself after he beautifully crumbed the pack in the goal square in the second period.

“I think they’ve enjoyed the environment,” Richmond assistant coach David Teague said of Taranto and Hopper.

“I thought the way they both played today, Tim particularly was able to get forward and hit the scoreboard, Jacob’s ability with his ball use going forward ... I thought really stood out.

“We targeted him (Taranto) for a reason, we were pretty impressed with him as a footballer, but the way he’s fit in, I think the way we play, our style, he’s going to be very good at getting from contest to contest.

“We know he’s an elite runner but then he’s physically strong as well so adding him and Hopper into the midfield gives us a couple more bigger bodies through that area of the ground and I thought today they both showed why they’re going to be really important players for the Richmond Football Club.”

Sheezel brings the excitement for North
Kangaroos fans had plenty to be excited about as well – namely highly touted top pick Harry Sheezel.

The No.3 selection overall at last year’s draft was outstanding up forward, finishing with three goals, and already looks a certain starter for round one after displaying the same class, poise and x-factor that he exhibited at underage level in 2022.

Sheezel was one of North’s best players in the opening term and started the match with a bang, tackling Taranto in the opening minute and pinging him for holding the ball, before nonchalantly converting the free kick from 35 metres out directly in front.

He added another clip to his highlight reel 15 minutes later when he cleverly tapped the loose ball from congestion to Jaidyn Stephenson who handballed it back to Sheezel before he snapped truly with a magnificent attempt under pressure from a sharp angle in the pocket.

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His third major came in the third period when he crumbed the pack in the goal square and sent a hurried banana through the big sticks, capping off an industrious opening foray against senior AFL opposition.

“We’ve always known he’s a talented young kid, he’s an opportunist, and we’re pleased with him today,” North Melbourne assistant coach John Blakey said.

“He bobs up and kicks goals and that’s what he does, so looking forward to what he can do in the future ... he’s been very good.”

Other Kangaroos who impressed were Luke Davies-Uniacke, who was their best on-baller as usual, and Cam Zurhaar in an unfamiliar role in the middle.

Zurhaar attended numerous centre bounces, and although he got caught holding the ball a few times, he made his presence felt and added grunt in the clinches.

The maligned Stephenson also looked dangerous at times, creating and setting up play as a midfielder/high half-forward, and applying some good forward pressure, and young key forward Charlie Comben provided a solid target for the Kangaroos, finishing with 2.2. New coach Alastair Clarkson will hope Comben can effectively combine with Nick Larkey in attack this year.

From purple to blue and white
Clarkson would’ve also been pleased with another new recruit, former Docker Griffin Logue, who had a good battle with star Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt.

“We’re really pleased with Griff,” Blakey said.

“He’s a leader as well and his voice behind the ball is very, very strong and he sets us up well.

“It looks like he’s going to be pretty important for us.”

In their first official hit out under Clarkson, North’s ability to run in numbers, especially from defence, was noticeable and they seemed to have a stronger defensive structure compared to previous years. They also weren’t shy in taking the game on through the corridor, with quick handballs leading to some impressive run-and-carry play.

For the Tigers, triple Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin was busy, and showed glimpses of his vintage best with a couple of beautiful goals, co-captain Toby Nankervis was great in the ruck, Nick Vlastuin was rock solid in defence and rookie selection Seth Campbell looked spritely up forward, kicking a couple of goals from limited game time.

“He’s had a really good pre-season,” Teague said of Martin.

“He’s been training hard, he’s looked really good in lots of our intraclub games.

“Dustin has trained mainly as a forward so he’ll do probably the majority of his work ahead of the ball, he’ll come up to stoppages at times.

“We’re very lucky, we’ve got some flexibility there, Trent’s playing a little bit more forward this year, we know Shai (Bolton) is another one who can play forward and go on-ball, so what we’ve probably added is a little bit more versatility there.”

And without Tom Lynch, young tall Samson Ryan provided a presence up forward for the Tigers, kicking two goals and could’ve finished with four, but two of his set shots failed to score.

Teague expected Bolton to face Melbourne at Casey Fields next Saturday for the Tigers’ final practice match, after missing the game against North as he attended a funeral, while Lynch, Liam Baker (appendix) and Jack Graham could line up as well.

The Kangaroos were hopeful that Jy Simpkin, Ben Cunnington and Todd Goldstein would all be available against the Western Bulldogs at Princes Park next week after the trio sat out Friday’s hitout.

Swans’ ruck crisis could fast track rugby union convert’s AFL debut

Vince Rugari

Rugby union convert Lachlan McAndrew could be in line for his AFL debut in Sydney’s round one clash with the Gold Coast Suns if their ruck stocks crisis worsens any further.

Veteran Tom Hickey will miss the first part of Sydney’s season while second-choice ruckman Peter Ladhams is also battling knee tendonitis, which ruled him out of Friday’s match simulation against Brisbane Lions - the Swans’ first opposed hit-out since losing last year’s grand final.

A healthy crowd at Sydney’s Lakeside Oval, across the road from the SCG, saw the Lions prevail by 45 points, winning 15.9 (99) to 8.6 (54) on the back of five unanswered goals in the third quarter.

With Hayden McLean and Joel Amartey also part of a long list of notable Swans absentees, the ruck duties largely fell to McAndrew, a former Manly Marlins colts second-rower who joined the Swans’ rookie list at the 2021 mid-season draft - not long after his manager took him to watch an AFL game, after they both agreed his wiry build would hinder his aspirations in elite rugby.