Demons defender Judd McVee was carried from the field during Melbourne's Wednesday pre-season training, leaving the ground during match simulation in what appears to be a severe right hamstring injury.
The 21-year-old has hardly missed a beat in his latest two seasons at the club, emerging for a debut in 2023 and playing every game since, with 48 matches at the top flight to his name.
McVee was likely to resume a role down back again in 2025, despite enjoying some midfield minutes in the latter stages of 2024, but a serious hamstring strain could spell an extended stint on the sidelines for the young Demon.
The injury blow adds to a growing list of hamstrung footballers nationwide, let alone at Melbourne, with Jake Melksham and Tom Fullarton continuing their rehab progression from hamstring strains.
Additonally, vice-captain Jack Viney was absent from training on Wednesday after copping a knock to his ribs during Friday's training session.
The injury caused damage to Viney's rib cartilage and is set to rule the midfielder out of Melbourne's four-quarter match simulation on Friday.
Youngster Koltyn Tholstrup received a severe injury blow just last month, with bone stress ruling the 19-year-old for the start of Melbourne's 2025 campaign.
Melbourne general manager of AFL performance Alan Richardson said McVee is under a nervous wait as he goes to receive scans this afternoon.
โJudd will have a scan on his hamstring this afternoon, which will give us the full picture,โ Richardson said.
โFingers crossed it's not significant, but we will know more shortly.โ
Christian Petracca has been making strides in recovering from a cracked rib, but was unsighted in match simulation on Wednesday, instead running laps for most of the training block.
In positive signs however, Petracca also matched up with fellow rehabbing teammate Charlie Spargo for one-on-one contact and tackling drills, indicating the star midfielder is managing his workload to be primed for Melbourne's Round 1 clash.
During match and game-specific simulations with scorching February conditions, Kysaiah Pickett continued to impress as a potential starting midfielder, tearing up the field with line-breaking bursts of speed and clean skills by foot. Pickett spent the majority of the session high up the ground and in the midfield contest, as key forwards dominated the scoreboard.
Jacob Van Rooyen took a couple of strong overhead marks in a promising watch for Demons fans hoping the budding star can become their key target for the future.
Harrison Petty, although stationed in defence for the majority of match sim, swung forward to take a juggling contested grab and slot through a major.
In defence, Jake Lever and Steven May worked in tandem for the side wearing navy blue training kits, successfully preventing opposing attacks with intercept marks and well-structured positioning.
Melbourne are gearing up for their first pre-season match against North Mebourne at Arden Street in just 10 days. A trip to WA is to follow as the Demons play Fremantle in the Community Series.
The Demons then face GWS in Round 1 on their home turf on Sunday, March 16.
