AFL 2025: February match simulation

“To have him around the group and training hard, he has got those second and third efforts. By the end of last year, it doesn’t matter if you’re the best player in the competition if you don’t do a full preseason or a preseason with the club you’ll find it hard. Loading “Even the best players over time have been a bit inconsistent. We saw that in his performance last year. There were some games he would have wanted back. We’re starting to see a better version of him, that’s for certain.” Given the last quarter off, Oliver finished his day with sprints on the boundary line. First-round picks Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay did not look out of place at senior level. Langford turned Griffin Logue inside out in the middle in one play to drive the ball forward, while Lindsay will help the Dees with their ball movement.

Roo Beauty Jacob van Rooyen looks ready to find another level. There have never been doubts on the key forward’s competitiveness, now he’s added a layer of smarts to his game. The extra brainpower means van Rooyen does not have to be as reliant on his brawn for his goals. A feature of van Rooyen’s four-goal game, playing primarily forward with a pinch hit as second ruck, was his ability to find space on the lead. “Rooey’s been doing a lot of work on his forward craft,” Chaplin said. “We’re trying to teach him to get separation, find some easy ball. We know what he’s like in a contested situation, but we’re trying to get him some easier footy. I thought he did that really well today.”

Young forward Matt Jefferson, a first-round pick from 2022, found space inside 50 though will need to improve his physical game to tip out Daniel Turner for a debut. “Those guys we don’t want to rush,” Chaplin said. “We want to make sure when they get in they’re there to stay. He’s getting himself to a position now where we can sit here and say he’s ready for AFL football.” Wingman Harry Sharp, traded from Brisbane last year, booted four goals on debut in red and blue. Journeyman ruck impresses Tom Campbell, at his fourth club, had the better of Tristan Xerri in the ruck. He won’t take Max Gawn’s spot but Chaplin said this performance has given the Demons brains trust the option of resting their captain when needed.

“Tommy’s been a bit of a journeyman across the time but he’s always been the second ruck at the clubs he’s been at,” Chaplin said. “We know he’s more than capable of playing that role for us.” Daniel makes his mark Former Bulldog Caleb Daniel will slot neatly into the halfback playmaker role he performed with distinction for much of his time at Whitten Oval. Daniel was the architect for many of the Kangaroos’ best passages of play. He even booted a goal from outside 50. His clean ball use stood out in a North team that struggled with their skills in the blustery conditions.

“He’s pretty handy, isn’t he?” North assistant coach Leigh Adams said. “We’re talking about us needing to get the fundamentals better, and you bring in a bloke like that who lifts the standards so much. You saw it out there today, he always looks like he has time and space with the ball in hand.” Caleb Daniel in North Melbourne colours. Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images Darling will help young Roos Veteran Jack Darling will offer plenty to North’s forward line. Darling competed hard in the air and led into dangerous positions. Though he won’t be part of the club’s flag push, he will take the load off Nick Larkey while also freeing up Cam Zurhaar. Luke Parker battled manfully in the guts. Like Darling, his value add will be the guidance he gives others, such as Sheezel, McKercher, and the pressure he takes off Luke Davies-Uniacke.

ACL fears for young Dee The Dees fear youngster Andy Moniz-Wakefield may have ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament. Moniz-Wakefield, who broke through for six games last year, hurt his knee late in the final term. “Looked pretty nasty, he’s pretty flat at the moment,” Chaplin said. “We’ll have to get a scan just to confirm it. “It didn’t look good from a visual point of view but [we’re] hoping for the best.” The Dees will welcome a host of senior players back for their practice match against Fremantle in Perth next weekend, including Christian Petracca, Gawn, Jack Viney, Ed Langdon, Christian Salem, Steven May and Bayley Fritsch.

North captain Jy Simpkin, who played for the Indigenous All Stars last week, was a late withdrawal but will line up for North next week in Bunbury against West Coast. Melbourne’s Andy Moniz-Wakefield (right). Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images North Melbourne 2.3, 5.3, 8.8, 10.10 (70)

Melbourne 3.3, 6.6, 12.7, 18.9 (117)

GOALS North Melbourne: Larkey 3, Curtis 2, Phillips, Daniel, Darling, Sheezel, Powell.

Melbourne: van Rooyen 4, Sharp 4, Pickett 2, Campbell, Billings, Jefferson, Woewodin, Sparrow, Turner, Brown.

Blues young gun limps off after knee scare, as goalsneak makes bid Peter Ryan Carlton hope boom recruit Jagga Smith has escaped unscathed after he copped a knock to the knee during the club’s 11-point loss to St Kilda in the Blues’ opening hitout for the season. Smith felt the outside of his knee as he limped from the ground on the three-quarter-time siren and did not reappear, but Carlton assistant coach Tim Clarke said they were not overly concerned about the injury. Jagga Smith limps from the field in the match simulation against St Kilda. Credit: AFL Photos

“We kept him off as a precaution. It will be looked at in the next couple of days but at the moment, it’s nothing too serious,” Clarke said. Smith was the player the crowd had come to see with a roar greeting his first touch, and he justified being pick No.3 in last year’s national draft. However, Jesse Motlop’s performance was the highlight for the Blues. The 21-year-old looked like he might be ready to step up and answer the Blues’ desperate need for small forwards to sit under the feet of Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow, after he kicked three goals on Saturday. The Blues made the big decision in the off-season to trade Matt Owies, given their salary cap position and surplus of contracted small forwards, but Motlop played just the final seven games in 2024 after suffering hamstring injuries throughout the year. Blue Jesse Motlop (right) is taken high in a tackle. Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

“He has not missed a beat this pre-season both as a dangerous forward and through our midfield,” Clarke said. “His ability to get after the loose ball and be creative in our forward line, we are really excited about the condition Jesse is in and the roles he can play.” Motlop also created a goal for Lucas Camporeale in the final quarter to give the recruit, and son of club great Scott Camporeale, a boost in confidence. It was a good sign for the Blues after Corey Durdin appeared to hurt his ankle in the third quarter. He could not return, with Clarke saying there might be some damage to his left ankle. Patrick Cripps and Zac Williams played the first half before being rested while Sam Walsh, Jack Silvagni, Alex Cincotta, Brodie Kemp and Curnow did not play. Nic Newman has a long-term injury. Walsh is on track to play against the Giants in the community series match next Friday provided he completes training this week. “If it’s not then it will be the week after,” Clarke said. The Blues were overwhelmed after quarter-time when the Saints took control around the ball, with Jack Macrae promising to be a handy addition. The Saints were impressive in the win as they were missing Max King, Rowan Marshall, Hunter Clark, Dougal Howard, Liam Henry, Jack Sinclair, Mattaes Phillipou and Mason Wood.

St Kilda’s speed on the rebound troubled the Blues with Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera an exceptional talent. Assistant coach Corey Enright said he was pleased with the signs the younger players showed. “That’s what you want, you want a whole squad that if someone goes down we can replace them and feel comfortable and confident that they can do the job,” Enright said. Jagga Smith (left) and Harry McKay fly high for a mark. Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images Moving like Jagga

Smith did not disappoint with his first touch as he pirouetted out of a tackle before kicking to confirm the expectations surrounding him this pre-season. He did not win an enormous amount of the ball, but he was clean, had time and, most importantly, put teammates into space.Lucas Camporeale had a run on the wing without getting much opportunity while Harry Lemmey looked the part but had little impact after coming on in the second half. Tobie Travaglia came on for the final quarter with the Saints and displayed his running power immediately, kicking a long goal from the boundary. Weitering blanketed Jacob Weitering can expect a hard time in 2025 if the tactics the Saints employed become standard. Mitch Owens and Anthony Caminiti both spent as much time as possible distracting the key defender, keeping him out of marking contests and spoiling him when he was in position to mark. The Blues’ lack of height in defence already leaves them vulnerable and opponents will be determined to restrict Weitering to put more pressure on Lewis Young and Mitch McGovern. Caminiti had been training in defence but Enright said they wanted players to be able to perform in different positions. First-game smokeys Liam O’Connell and Hugh Boxshall made good cases in the first half to be considered for selection. Boxshall was given the huge task of playing on Cripps at stoppages, and acquitted himself well. He also kicked a goal, which was just reward for his hard work inside. Irish recruit O’Connell spent last season learning the game, but his teachers can be pleased with how he started his season. He intercepted a high ball to create the Saints’ first goal, then showed his courage attacking a loose ball with Jaxon Binns bearing down. He finished with two goals, showing great promise. Angus Hastie also made strong claims to play in defence, going back with the flight to mark several times.

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