OF COURSE, everyone is ‘tearing up the track’ this pre-season, but there are always a couple of names that stick out from the pack.
So far in 2021, some Demons have been showing off a new physique, some an enhanced endurance, and others a flashy set of skills.
All in all, the growth on display at Casey Fields is evident, as Melbourne looks to improve on last year’s underachieving campaign.
The first name worthy of a mention is Tom McDonald.
It’s no secret his 2020 season didn’t go to plan, but he appears to have a point to prove.
The 28-year-old has returned fitter than ever, looking to have trimmed right down which is helping him cover the ground with ease.
Speaking of trim, Nathan Jones certainly isn’t carrying any extra weight.
In his 16th pre-season, Jones hasn’t slowed down, and could still have some good senior footy ahead of him.
At the opposite end of the scales is 198cm ruckman, Luke Jackson.
Entering his second pre-season, Jackson is significantly heavier, yet hasn’t lost his run, making him a difficult match-up for the opposition.
And he’s not the only young gun looking to take his game to the next level in 2021.
James Jordon has impressed with his inside midfield form to date, Kade Chandler has put in a mountain of work to smash his time trial records, and it’s great to see Aaron Nietschke in the main group after back-to-back ACL injuries.
As you’d expect, Kysaiah Pickett is buzzing around and putting plenty of time into his snaps on goal.
He’s a unique talent who gave fans a glimpse of what he has to offer in his debut season, but expect a few more of those half chances to sail between the big sticks in 2021.
And as for the draftees, they’ve already shown their value on the track.
Jake Bowey and Bailey Laurie are elite kicks of the footy, which is exactly what the club was after, while Fraser Rosman, at 194cm, has been hard to catch in any of the running drills.
The countdown is now on for Melbourne’s first match of the pre-season so we can see these names in action, although at this stage, that fixture remains unknown.
