MIDFIELD hard-nut Tom Sparrow has dazzled with a two-minute, two-goal purple patch as Melbourne took to Casey Fields for another match simulation hit-out as a part of the Demons Family Series presented by Beyond Bank.
The 24-year-old performed strongly through the midfield and forward lines as he enters an important seventh season on the list.
Draftee duo Xavier Lindsay and Harvey Langford looked at home playing alongside a strong blue team, with a monster set-shot goal from Langford a highlight of the afternoon.
Langford launched from the edge of the centre square with the man on the mark standing on the paint of 50, capping off a strong performance for the selection No. 6 in last year’s National Draft.
The smooth-moving Lindsay ran hard all afternoon on the wing, with his linking efforts a standout feature of his performance.
Lindsay applied a crunching tackle on the wing in a promising indication that the skilful winger can mix it on the inside as well.
Clayton Oliver gave Langford a run for his money with another 60-metre bomb, letting loose from well inside the centre square.
The midfield maestro was a fixture through the midfield all afternoon for the dominant blue squad.
Oliver Sestan shone in defence for the white team, accumulating plenty of the football as he finds his feet down back.
The 20-year-old has previously plied his craft as a goalkicking forward but looked comfortable in his new role rebounding off half back.
Ed Langdon also tried some new tricks, featuring in centre bounces across the four periods of play.
The Demons’ running man also snuck forward for a goal, ably assisted by the aforementioned Sparrow as the duo linked up from a stoppage for a snapped finish around the corner.
Lively forward Shane McAdam was sharp early, flying for a leaping grab before converting from a set shot for his first of the afternoon.
McAdam’s day was cut short as he was assisted from the field in the hands of the trainers, with more information to be provided by Melbourne Media as it becomes available.
Alongside Sparrow, both Bayley Fritsch and Jacob van Rooyen managed two majors apiece, with Fritsch looking his classy self up forward.
Mature-aged recruit Aidan Johnson battled hard up for the white outfit, kicking the opening goal of the afternoon from a chaos ball inside 50, while also turning heads with a strong clunk on centre wing.
Fellow recruit Tom Campbell locked horns with Max Gawn all afternoon in the ruck as Gawn finds his feet following a larynx injury, giving the Melbourne captain a strong contest.
Developing ruckman Will Verrall had his own highlight moment, fending off Tom McDonald to take a contested grab in front of goal.
Goals
Blue Team | Fritsch, Sparrow, van Rooyen 2, McAdam, Bowey, Langford, Langdon, Sharp, Oliver
White Team | Johnson, Verrall, Turner, Billings
