Summary

MELBOURNE had a good hit-out against Richmond in its opening JLT pre-season game of 2019 but fell 12 points short of victory on Sunday afternoon.

In scorching 37-degree conditions, the Demons ventured to Shepparton and battled it out under the sun, putting their fitness to the test in a taxing game of footy.

Although the result didn’t go the way of the red and blue, there was a lot to take out of the first official match of the year.

Some familiar faces led the way, a couple of new comers chipped in and there were plenty of goals scored throughout the afternoon.

Recap the JLT1 clash below.

The numbers

DISPOSALS: Brayshaw 37, Oliver 32, Salem 27, Fritsch 26, Petracca 22, Harmes 21

GOALS: T.McDonald, J.Smith, Weideman 2, Fritsch, Garlett, Harmes, Kennedy Harris, Maynard, Neal-Bullen, Oliver, Petracca, Stretch, C.Wagner

Fast start

The Demons didn’t take long to open their scoring account in 2019, with Billy Stretch launching a long-range goal to start the game.

And the attack didn’t end there.

Melbourne went on a four-goal run and blew the lead out to 22 points at quarter-time with an impressive seven-goal opening term.

The standouts

In his new red and blue helmet, Angus Brayshaw was hard to miss on Sunday, amassing 37 disposals in a dominant display.

Fellow midfielder Clayton Oliver was another to shine with 32 touches, returning seamlessly from double shoulder surgery over the off-season.

Bayley Fritsch also impressed on the wing with 26 touches, showing he could be an asset delivering the ball inside 50 this season.

New Demons

Melbourne had six players pull on the red and blue guernsey for the first time in an official capacity on the weekend.

Big recruit Braydon Preuss, rookies Declan Keilty and Corey Wagner, and draftees Marty Hore, Tom Sparrow and James Jordon all got their first taste of Melbourne footy.

Hore looked the goods in defence, reading the ball well in the air and putting his hand up for an early season debut.

Injury trouble

Jeff Garlett dislocated his shoulder in a spoiling attempt during the third quarter which saw him leave the ground in pain.

Fortunately, the 29-year-old was able to get his shoulder back into place quickly, so he will now undergo scans to determine how long he will spend on the sidelines.

Lights out

While the Dees held up well under the burning sun, the same can’t be said for Deakin Reserve’s light towers.

The game was left to be played out in the dark as Shepparton faced a power outage in the last quarter.

Fortunately, the sun light was strong enough for the game to conclude without disruption, but Melbourne’s post-game meeting occurred in a pitch-black change room.

Staff members were forced to resort to their phone flashlights to help them get by after the match.

Looking ahead

JLT2 v Brisbane @ Casey Fields – Saturday, 9 March, 4:10pm AEDT

Melbourne will have one more practice match prior to Round 1, with the Dees set to face Brisbane at Casey Fields on Saturday afternoon.

Some big Demon names are set to be available for selection, with prized recruit Steven May expected to play his first game for the club after suffering a hamstring injury over the pre-season.