Melbourne star Max Gawn has shown how much a dominant big man could relish the AFL’s ruck rule change.

Gawn starred in Friday’s practice match against Collingwood at the Holden Centre, with the All-Australian ruckman in control at the centre bounces and around the ground.

Collingwood’s No.1 ruckman Brodie Grundy remains sidelined after a toe injury and Gawn took full toll.

The rule change means a player can take the ball out of the ruck without the risk of conceding an immediate free kick for prior opportunity.

Gawn stood out as the Demons won 11.6 (72) to 7.6 (48).

The two teams were missing several key players, with Melbourne co-captains Nathan Jones and Jack Viney and injured key position player Tom McDonald leading their absentees.

Grundy, Scott Pendlebury and newly-injured players Jordan De Goey and Will Hoskin-Elliott were among the players on the sideline for Collingwood.

The two teams still started with powerful midfields – Melbourne’s Christian Petracca, Angus Brayshaw and James Harmes against Taylor Adams, Adam Treloar and returning onballer Dayne Beams.

Magpies forward Jamie Elliott, who missed all last season because of injury, kicked their first two goals.

Teammates Dayne Beams and Ben Reid also kicked two apiece, while newcomers Tyler Brown and Isaac Quaynor had runs in the second half.

Collingwood key defender Darcy Moore looked proppy in the first half but he took a couple of strong marks in defence during the third term.

Recruit Brayden Preuss kicked two goals for the Demons, while former Western Bulldogs premiership player Jordan Roughead played in defence for Collingwood.