Melbourne’s Matthew Bate will lead a crop of senior listed players on show for the Casey Scorpions in their VFL practice match on Friday afternoon.

With no NAB Challenge games this weekend, ten Melbourne players will benefit from another hit-out at VFL level, as the team prepares for its Round One clash against Hawthorn at the MCG.

Bate will play his third match of the year, as he returns from a quad injury that sidelined him after Christmas. He returned to the senior side last week against West Coast, but needs more run in his legs to put his hand up for senior selection in Round One. 

Friday afternoon will also mark the return of 2008 No. 1 draft pick, Jack Watts. The key forward prospect will play his first match of the year, after a niggling back injury halted his second pre-season at the Club.

Promising backman Colin Garland will also continue his return to football with the Casey Scorpions.  Last week, Garland played his first game in almost a year, after fully recovering from two stress fractures sustained in Round One of the 2009 season.  He only played a half of football last week, but will have more game time on Friday to ease his body back into AFL football.

Other Demons on show on Friday will be last year’s No. 11 draft pick, Jordan Gysberts.  Gysberts will relish the opportunity to gain more experience at the senior level against bigger bodies.  He will be joined by Jack Fitzpatrick, Rhys Healey, Michael Newton, Daniel Hughes, Tom McNamara and Jake Spencer, who will all be putting their best foot forward to stake claims for eventual senior selection.

Cameron Bruce, who returned to the senior side last week after missing the previous three games with a hamstring injury, will be rested.  Aaron Davey will also be rested, but will be ready to fire in Melbourne’s Round One clash against the Hawks.

The Casey Scorpions play the Northern Bullants in an VFL practice match at Casey Fields on Friday. The seniors game will kick off at 4:45pm and the reserves at 7:15pm.