STAR forward Russell Robertson was reported for the second time in as many matches as Melbourne completed a disappointing AFL pre-season with a 51-point loss to North Melbourne in their final NAB Challenge match.
Robertson was booked in the last quarter for making forceful, front-on contact to Kangaroos midfielder Andrew Swallow on Saturday.
With the opening home-and-away clash with Hawthorn just a fortnight away, the Demons will be desperately hoping for a repeat of last week, when their leading goalkicker from 2007 was cleared of charging Bulldog Cameron Wight.
In more bad news for the Demons, midfielder Matthew Bate departed with a hamstring injury midway through the 22.13 (145) to 14.10 (94) loss to North at Casey Fields in Melbourne's outer south-east.
The Kangaroos had the best forward on the ground in Aaron Edwards, who booted four goals in the opening three quarters before being rested by coach Dean Laidley.
Ruckman Hamish McIntosh, goalsneak Lindsay Thomas and onballers Brent Harvey and Swallow were also amongst the Kangaroos' best players.
"Our intensity was really good," said Laidley.
"It's just pleasing to get to the last practice game and not lose anyone (to injury).
"In the last two years in the last practice game we've lost Jesse Smith for a year and (Nathan Thompson with a knee injury) for a year.
"... I was really pleased with the forward line, particularly early.
"Thommo is still finding his feet and we know it's going to be a tough gig for him.
"I thought his work rate was terrific."
With only Smith and the injured Jess Sinclair missing from the Kangaroos' best side today, Laidley said there were up to five players from his in-form squad who could consider themselves unlucky to miss out on selection for the round-one clash with Essendon.
New Melbourne coach Dean Bailey struggled to find too many positives after the Demons recorded their fourth straight loss of the pre-season.
They were outscored by 16 goals to eight after quarter-time, despite booting four of the last five during the latter stages of the final term.
"It was a very disappointing day - not a lot of positives to come out of it," said Bailey.
"...We allowed too many goals to get kicked against us, we turned the ball over too much."
The Demons were without Cameron Bruce, Matthew Whelan, Paul Wheatley and Jared Rivers today, with the club hoping that Bruce will be able to overcome a knee injury in time to take on the Hawks.
"He needs another couple of weeks of training and if he's not fit, we won't play him," said Bailey of his gun onballer.
Melbourne was best served today by midfielders Nathan Jones, Simon Buckley and James McDonald.
NORTH MELBOURNE 6.4 11.7 18.10 22.13 (145)
MELBOURNE 6.3 8.4 9.8 14.10 (94)
Goals
North Melbourne: A Edwards 4 H McIntosh 2 L Thomas 2 C Jones 2 N Thompson 2 M Campbell 2 D Hale 2 D Harris S Grant A Simpson B Ross L Brown B Harvey.
Melbourne: R Robertson 4 I Weetra 2 M Newton 2 S Buckley D Neitz C Sylvia A Davey A Wonaeamirri P Johnson.
Best
North Melbourne: H McIntosh A Edwards A Simpson L Thomas B Harvey A Swallow.
Melbourne: N Jones S Buckley J McDonald A Davey.
Injuries: North Melbourne: Nil. Melbourne: M Bate (hamstring).
Reports: R Robertson (Melbourne) by field umpire D Sully for making forceful front-on contact to A Swallow (North Melbourne) in the fourth quarter.
Umpires: S McBurney H Kennedy D Sully.
Crowd: Approx 2,500 at Casey Fields, Melbourne.
