MELBOURNE fans can start to get excited about the future, after young trio Jimmy Toumpas, Christian Salem and Jay Kennedy-Harris all shone at the club's intra-club practice match on Friday.
In hot and windy conditions at Gosch's Paddock, the Demons turned out for a one-hour match simulation, in a bid to get some game time into the players.
More than anything, it was a chance for a number of players to push their case ahead of the Demons' first NAB Challenge match, against Richmond next Friday night at Etihad Stadium.
And Toumpas, Salem and Kennedy-Harris gave themselves every chance of being selected.
Buzzing around the half-forward line, Toumpas bagged four goals and demonstrated clever ball use - running with intent to find space away from his opponents.
Kennedy-Harris avoided the tacklers with a number of expert sidesteps, and was clean with his possession. Salem's precise kicking to advantage was a feature of his game.
Assistant coach Jade Rawlings said the club's youngsters would definitely be in the mix for the team's first official hit-out.
"We're pretty serious about the NAB Challenge, so you'll see a pretty strong side from us next week," Rawlings said.
"(Jesse) Hogan, Kennedy-Harris, Salem all demonstrated they can play at this level and we'll make decisions over the next week as to whether they're ready to play senior footy."
Co-captain Jack Grimes returned to defence where, along with James Frawley, he added some surety to the Demons' backline.
"We made a conscious decision with Roosy (Paul Roos) who asked where Jack plays his best footy, and it's probably been down back,” said Rawlings.
"He's a strong body, he knows what's going on down there, and he gives us a lot of maturity."
Rawlings expects high-flying forward Jeremy Howe to be stationed closer to goal this year, although Howe used part of the match practice to venture further up the ground.
Jesse Hogan copped a lot of attention from opponent Alex Georgiou, as well as having to contend with opposition players dropping into his space.
Nonetheless, Rawlings said the exciting young forward is set to make his debut early in the season, if not in round one.
"The way he moved today, he's in good shape and ready to play. He's been in our system for 18 months today and he looks like he's ready to play at senior level," Rawlings said.
Jack Watts was a notable absentee through illness, while Jack Viney, Chris Dawes, Mitch Clark and Colin Garland (ankle) all sat out the scratch match.
