AAMI Practice Match Review: Geelong vs Melbourne — SuperCoach 2026 Takeaways
I've been watching Caleb Windsor for two years wondering when Melbourne would just let him play. On a sunny afternoon at GMHBA Stadium, they finally answered: he's playing.
Melbourne beat Geelong 13.10 (88) to 11.8 (74) in a result that surprised most observers expecting Geelong's depth to tell at their home ground. But it's the mechanisms of the win that matter more than the scoreline — and the mechanism is Windsor, Steele, and Kysaiah Pickett running a midfield that now looks genuinely different from the one that underwhelmed in 2025.
The Match in 60 Seconds
Melbourne dominated the second and third quarters, kicked nine goals in succession at one point, and held off a late Geelong push anchored by Jeremy Cameron (three goals) and Patrick Dangerfield (18 disposals).
Jack Steele's first competitive game in navy blue had all the hallmarks of why Melbourne recruited him. Eight tackles. Constant hardness. The kind of contested grunt that turns possessions into opportunities. Windsor caught the eye throughout — 22 disposals and two goals from a role that floated between the midfield and half-forward arc.
Max Gawn had an encouraging first look under the new ruck rules, finishing with 19 hitouts and 3 clearances against Rhys Stanley.
Three Players to Watch for Round 1
1. Caleb Windsor (MID/FWD, $537,000) — Melbourne
The numbers: 22 disposals, 2 goals, 8 score involvements.
Windsor was everywhere. He spent time in the midfield at centre bounces, rotated forward, and twice used his left boot to slot set shots that Dees fans haven't seen from midfielders in years. At 22 disposals in this kind of contested game, the ball finds him because he moves to the right places.
The SuperCoach case isn't complicated. If Melbourne give him midfield time consistently — and this game suggests they will — a 80-90 average season is entirely buildable from his skill set and role.
Verdict: Mid-price buy. The role is real, the scoring profile is elite when he's free.
2. Jack Steele (MID, $742,000) — Melbourne
The numbers: 18 disposals, 8 tackles. First game in navy blue.
Steele brings exactly what was advertised in the trade — hard, contested ball-winning and relentless pressure. Eight tackles from 18 touches is a ratio of elite tacklers. Melbourne's midfield, rebuilt around pace (Windsor, Pickett), needed the engine underneath to make the ball count. Steele is that engine.
At $742,000 he's priced fairly for a 90+ averaging midfielder who brings floor certainty. Set and forget from Round 1.
Verdict: Safe premium. Buy him, forget him, count the points.
3. Jeremy Cameron (FWD) — Geelong
The numbers: 3 goals. First competitive hit-out after managing a quad.
Cameron looked absolutely fit and sharp — no sign of the hesitancy you see from players easing back from injury. Three goals in a narrow loss from a full forward who had question marks around his summer. The concern was overblown. He's your R1 premium FWD anchor.
Verdict: Set and forget for premium FWD coaches. Fit, sharp, and motivated.
Other SuperCoach Notes
- Max Gawn (RUC, Melbourne): 19 hitouts, 3 clearances. First look under the new rules was encouraging — expect him to build as the series progresses.
- Kysaiah Pickett (MID/FWD, Melbourne): 17 disposals, 1 goal. The elder Pickett cousin was moved through the midfield — a role that changes his scoring ceiling entirely if it holds.
- Max Holmes (Geelong MID): 20 disposals, 1 goal. Reliable output — a safe mid-price MID option if Geelong's supply is there.
- Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong MID): 18 disposals. Rested in the last quarter — load management. No concern for Round 1.
- Sam Draper (Melbourne): Filled in as the R2 against Stanley and held his own. Value as a bench ruck option.
Injury Watch
| Player | Club | Issue | R1 Impact | |--------|------|-------|-----------| | Jack Viney | Melbourne | Achilles | Long-term — not involved | | Bailey Smith | Geelong | Calf | Monitored — precautionary rest | | Joel Selwood | Geelong | Retired — not applicable | — |
The Bottom Line
Melbourne feel different in 2026. The build under their new identity has a clarity of purpose — fast ball movement, multiple midfield threats, and now a foundational grunt player in Steele to hold the contested work together.
Windsor and Steele as a combination is exactly the 1-2 punch Melbourne fans have been waiting for since Oliver and Petracca walked out the door. The question now is whether Pickett's midfield time holds — if it does, Melbourne's midfield becomes one of the game's most exciting fantasy generating units.
-AG
For more pre-season analysis, see our Rookie Power Rankings Traffic Light Guide and the AAMI Community Series wrap.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How did Jack Steele look in his Melbourne debut?+
Steele was everything Melbourne paid for — 18 disposals, 8 tackles, and relentless pressure at every contest. He brings exactly the hardness at the ball that Melbourne's midfield was missing after losing Petracca and Oliver. At $742,000 as a MID, he's a reliable set-and-forget.
Should I start Caleb Windsor in SuperCoach 2026?+
Windsor ran the midfield alongside Steele with 22 disposals and 2 goals. His ability to create off half-forward and also push inside gives Melbourne enormous flexibility — and gives Windsor a scoring profile that could sit between 80-95 in a good year. At his price, he's worth the look.
Is Jeremy Cameron a good SuperCoach pick after his return?+
Cameron kicked three goals in his first competitive hit-out after managing a quad concern over summer. He looked fit and sharp — the Geelong forward line will be led by him again in 2026. At his premium price, he's reliable but not essential unless you're building around Geelong.
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