WITH no VFL in action due to COVID-19, the AFL clubs have had to come together and find another way to give the players outside their best 22 a hit-out.

For Melbourne, that came in the form of a 14 v 14 practice match against Carlton on Saturday morning.

The clash at Ikon Park, which took place ahead of the Demons one-point Round 2 win, saw 17 players take to the field in a bid to put their hand up for selection next week.

While scores weren’t recorded, the Dees were in control of the game, kicking close to 10 goals more than their opposition.

This is how the boys performed, according to the side’s coach, Matthew Egan.

Sam Weideman

“Sammy Weideman played up forward and in the ruck and his aerial work was very good. He really jumped at the ball, provided a really good target and his goal kicking was very good as well. Him and Mitch Brown both kicked five (goals).”

Mitch Brown

“Browny’s movement was very good – his leading at the ball was excellent. The whole forward line just functioned really well, they took their turn and Browny got off his man really well.”

Mitch Hannan

“It was just good to see him back playing footy and he moved really well. His speed and power was definitely on show and his ability to get off his opponent with multiple leads was really good. He played a really selfless role as well – he gave a few off. He didn’t look rusty at all – he came back and was straight back into it.”

Aaron vandenBerg

“Again, it was good just to see him play out a full game. He played mainly in the midfield and his contest work, as always, was really solid, and his ability to get out of contested areas was a highlight as well.”

Kysaiah Pickett

“Kozzy mainly played forward, but we used him on-ball a little bit and he ended up with 19 possessions and a few clearances. He looked dangerous, his decision making with the ball was very good and he was moving across the ground really well – he gets right up and races back into the forward line.”

Michael Hibberd

“Hibbo played a little bit down on game time just in case he was needed for the AFL, but when he was on he was defending really well. He took four intercept marks and looked very comfortable with the other backs.”

Jay Lockhart

“He missed a little bit of training with a sore quad, so he was a bit stiff to miss out on selection, but he was really influential – in particular in the second half. He helped out his teammates in the air and used the ball really well coming out of defence – he looked really good.”

Toby Bedford

“Toby kicked a couple of goals on the run. It was a tough day for small forwards, but he used his speed and run and carry. When he got his chances, he made the most of them, so it was a good game by Tobes.”

Charlie Spargo

“Spargs moved around a little bit – he played high half-forward, on-ball and a little bit on the wing. The ball went over his head a bit because we were kicking it to the keys a fair bit, but he ran really good patterns and was really clean.”

Oscar McDonald

“His aerial presence was pretty dominant. He jumped at the ball really well and took a few really good intercept marks in a few contests down the line.”

Kade Chandler

“He’s been down back for a couple of weeks in the match sim and he’s been going really well there. We’ve been using him as a high half-back that can join in offence because he’s a really good ball user. His game was good, he understands what he needs to do as a defender and he beat his man a lot of the time, so it was a good first game for him in 10 months.”

Josh Wagner

“He had a really good game and his defending was the highlight. There was a lot of space, there was only four v four in the backline, and he just gave his opponent no areas to work in.”

James Jordon

“JJ’s ability to hit bodies, lay tackles and win the hard ball was a highlight of his pre-season and particularly his last four weeks. That’s why he was named emergency, so he’s developing really nicely.”

Tom Sparrow

“Along with JJ, his physicality around the ball was good, but more so his ability to get out of contested areas. He has genuine power and speed to leave the contest and that was really on show. It was good to see his inside and outside run on Saturday.”

Kyle Dunkley

“He played mostly on the wing, where he’s been going really well the last three weeks. The game was a bit more through the middle and didn’t get out to the wingers a lot, but he played his role really well.”

Oskar Baker

“Oskar was on the other wing and it was one of his better games. He knew what he needed to do, and he had a few highlights with a goal from 60m and a squaring pass to Weids while running inside 50.”

Austin Bradtke

“It was probably his best game for the club. He rucked for most of the game and his work at the centre bounce and follow up around the ground was really good. He followed up and kicked a goal at one stage and had 13 possessions which was good to see.”

Corey Wagner didn’t partake in the game, being carried over as emergency.