DEMONS SEE OFF TIGERS IN COMPETITIVE HIT OUTBy Andrew Slevison
SEN
26 February 2021Melbourne and Richmond have played out a competitive practice match at Casey Fields this morning.
The Demons won by 11 points - 14.9.(93) to 12.10.(82) - in a game that ebbed and flowed throughout.
The reigning premiers were without a handful of premiership players - Dion Prestia, Kane Lambert, Bachar Houli, Daniel Rioli and Marlion Pickett (who came on late in the last quarter) - while the Demons had Jack Viney, Sam Weideman, Jake Melksham, Angus Brayshaw, Michael Hibberd, Kysaiah Pickett and recruit Ben Brown among those on the sidelines.
The Tigers saw Dustin Martin and Shane Edwards very busy around the ball and across half-forward but coach Damien Hardwick will be most pleased by the impressive performances of 2019 draft pair Will Martyn and Hugo Ralphsmith.
The former picked up plenty of touches, particularly early, and impressed with his fierce attack on the ball while the latter looked comfortable playing off half-back, playing a rebounding role in tandem with Liam Baker.
Jake Aarts was busy with three goals, while Jack Riewoldt and Josh Caddy each kicked two.
Richmond added the likes of Thomson Dow, who was busy in the final term, Callum Coleman-Jones, Patrick Naish and triallist Jordan Gallucci late in the game.
For the Tigers, it was a solid hit out which they’ll only benefit from.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/02/26/demons-see-off-tigers-in-competitive-hit-out/