Bachar Houli is unlikely to be fit for round one as he struggles with a calf injury. The Tigers moved youngster Hugo Ralphsmith into a running defender role in the pre-season and gave him the nod in the main game ahead of Marlion Pickett,who played that role in the second of the practice matches on the day. Pickett played well,spending his time between half-back,wing and midfield.

Ralphsmith was impressive in the full hitout with clever clean hands and good ball use. He has good run and looked comfortable in the role.

“Hugo is putting his hand up in the pre-season to fill that spot. He was really serviceable today and we will see how he is next week against Collingwood,” assistant coach Adam Kingsley said.

Josh Caddy has also played across half-back in the pre-season but was used on a wing again in the practice game and did well.

Young Tigers

Jake Aarts did well forward for the Tigers and Jack Ross managed more midfield time. Ross looked good doing some clever things. He hit perhaps the kick of the day in the third quarter when on the run and under pressure he saw Jack Riewoldt in the opposite pocket and squared a low,flat kick across his body to find the full-forward.

Shae Bolton at half-forward was good for the Tigers. Dion Prestia did not play as he recovers from injury.

Thomson Dow came on in the last quarter of the main game as a bunch of Tigers,including Dusty Martin and Shane Edwards,came off after playing their predetermined minutes.

Hunting for an old new role

Jayden Hunt started his career as a dashing runner out of defence before moving to a half-forward line in recent seasons. His defensive focus and loose kicking led to him being pushed to attack and out of harm’s way for use of the ball out of defence. This year the Demons look to be eyeing a return for him to the back line,where his speed and daring off half-back,especially with Ed Langdon on a wing,on Friday gave the Demons enormous drive out of defence.

“He will be a very valuable player for us down there. Where ‘Hunty’ was two or three years ago his defensive stuff wasn’t as good as his offensive stuff but now it is really on par. The way he is able to defend at the minute is top class,” Lever said.

James Jordan looked good up forward for the Demons,Charlie Spargo booted a couple and Kyle Chandler booted three goals,making a strong case to be in the team for round one.

“It is no surprise to us,we have seen Jimmy Jordan do it for nine weeks now and even last year he was very stiff so we were happy with him today,” Lever said.

Stand By

No 50-metre penalties were paid forthe new man on the mark rule.

Whether it was the new rule or the familiarity with the wide size of the ground,Melbourne looked the quicker of the sides with their ball use and run through the corridor of the ground.

“Melbourne were able to hit the corridor a bit more than we would have liked,maybe that was the new rule,maybe we were a bit sloppy in defence,” Richmond assistant coach Adam Kingsley said.

Rioli goals

Maurice Rioli jnr had his first hitout for the Tigers in the second of the practice games.

Playing as a pressure small forwardMaurice jnr,or MJ, was lively and booted a couple of goals in the match of three half-hour periods.