AAMI Practice Match Review: Melbourne vs Richmond — SuperCoach 2026 Takeaways

I didn't expect to come away from a lightning-shortened practice match in Ballarat feeling this good about Melbourne. But here we are.

The Demons beat Richmond 12.6 (78) to 6.7 (43) before the weather shut things down, and honestly? The scoreline undersells it. Seven first-quarter goals. Fast, direct football. And a midfield that — without Petracca, without Oliver — looked like it actually wanted to be there. Caleb Windsor and Kysaiah Pickett ran the show, and the vibe was completely different to the Melbourne of the last two years.

The Match in 60 Seconds

A lightning delay interrupted proceedings less than five minutes in, but once play resumed, Melbourne exploded. Seven first-quarter goals through slick ball movement had them 25 points up at the first change.

The Dees extended the lead to 37 at half-time, with Windsor busy early (10 first-quarter touches, 7 score involvements) and Max Gawn giving his midfielders first use at every centre bounce.

The third quarter featured a lovely moment — Kysaiah Pickett set up cousin Latrelle for a goal — before a second lightning delay ended proceedings.

Three Players to Watch for Round 1

1. Caleb Windsor (MID) — Melbourne

The numbers: 15 disposals, 1 goal, 7 first-quarter score involvements.

Windsor is the player Melbourne needs to replace Petracca's X-factor, and in shortened game time he showed exactly why the club rates him so highly. His 10-touch, 7-score-involvement first quarter was electric. He relished the inside midfield role and linked beautifully with Pickett.

For SuperCoach, Windsor's scoring profile as a pure midfielder with forward craft makes him a fascinating watch. If he averages 25+ disposals in the real season, his price could be significantly too low.

Verdict: Breakout candidate. Melbourne's midfield rebuild runs through him.

2. Kysaiah Pickett (MID/FWD) — Melbourne

The numbers: 13 touches, 3 clearances, creative in the middle.

The elder Pickett cousin is being asked to do more with Petracca and Oliver gone, and he delivered. Three clearances and constant creativity around stoppages suggest Melbourne see him as a genuine inside threat, not just a flashy half-forward.

The SuperCoach dual-position eligibility (if he has MID/FWD) would make him extremely valuable. Watch for his centre bounce attendance in Round 1 — if it's up, his ceiling rises dramatically.

Verdict: Role upgrade in progress. More midfield time = more points = underpriced.

3. Sam Lalor (MID) — Richmond

The numbers: 15 disposals, 5 clearances, wore Dustin Martin's No. 4 jumper.

Wearing the most famous number in Richmond's recent history, Lalor showed he's not overawed by the expectations. Five clearances is a strong statement for a young midfielder — he won contested ball and distributed cleanly.

Richmond's rebuild means midfield opportunities are abundant. Lalor, alongside Taj Hotton, gives the Tigers a young engine room with genuine upside. At his price, he's a cash cow candidate worth monitoring. For a full breakdown of Hotton's second-year case, see our Second-Year Leap analysis.

Verdict: Strong midfield showing in a rebuilding side. Job security looks good — Richmond need him.

Other SuperCoach Notes

• Jacob van Rooyen (FWD): 3.2 from 8 disposals and 5 marks. Made a statement as Melbourne's key forward target in Mihocek's absence. If he's the KPF1, his price is dirt cheap.
• Jack Steele (MID): 11 disposals, 7 tackles in his first game for Melbourne. The recruit brings exactly what was advertised — hardness at the contest.
• Max Gawn (RUC): Dominated Nankervis despite his pre-game concerns about the new ruck rules. His leaping ability is a genuine advantage under the new setup.
• Trent Rivers (DEF): 17 disposals at 88% efficiency. A quiet day on the stat sheet but his composure was elite.
• Tom Lynch (Richmond): 2.3. Still Richmond's most dangerous forward and will eat against weaker defences.
• Jayden Short (Richmond): 20 disposals. Reliable as ever off half-back.
• Harvey Langford (Melbourne): 11 disposals and a goal. The youngster continues to push for a regular spot.
• Xavier Lindsay (Melbourne): 14 disposals in an encouraging showing.

Injury Watch

| Player | Club | Issue | R1 Impact | |--------|------|-------|-----------| | Luker Kentfield | Melbourne | Knee/head knock | Monitor — early casualty | | Sam Cumming | Richmond | Shoulder | Left before half-time — concern | | Jack Viney | Melbourne | Achilles | Long-term — not involved |

The Bottom Line

Look — it's one shortened practice match. I know that. But there was something about the way Melbourne moved the ball that felt genuine, not coached-up-for-the-cameras genuine. Windsor's first quarter was the best individual quarter I saw all pre-season. Pickett looks like he's finally being trusted through the middle.

If you watched this game, you'd back both of them. I did watch it. I do.

-DK

The AAMI Community Series wraps up the 2026 pre-season. Round 1 kicks off Thursday, March 5. For the full pre-season landscape, check our complete AAMI Series wrap and the Rookie Power Rankings Traffic Light Guide.