Nearly a half century since the Galloping Gasometer, North Melbourne’s nostalgic AFL match at Arden St might have confirmed the emergence of their next frontline ruckman.
Rugby league convert Braydon Preuss starred on Sunday with game-high statistics of 27 hitouts and three goals as North beat Hawthorn by 21 points.
The 0.13.17 (95) to 0.11.8 (74) pre-season win was North’s first game at their home ground since they beat Richmond in round 20, 1985 and it attracted a crowd of 3981.
It was also a successful hitout for Hawthorn, who played their three high-profile recruits together for the first time.
Former Sydney midfielder Tom Mitchell had his first run for the Hawks, joining Jaeger O’Meara (Gold Coast) and Ty Vickery (Richmond) in the lineup.
All were prominent, with Mitchell and O’Meara prolific through the midfield and Vickery kicking two goals.
At 206cm and 109kg, Preuss is a big lad, but not quite the dimensions of North ruckman Mick Nolan, all 194cm and 135kg of him, who played 107 games for the ‘Roos until 1980.
Nolan’s build was reminiscent of the giant gasometer that once dominated the outer wing at Arden St, hence his Galloping Gasometer moniker.
But Nolan could also play and so, it seems, can Preuss.
The Queenslander played league until 16 and North recruited him through the 2015 rookie draft as a project ruckman.
Now 21, Preuss has done well enough in the VFL to earn a two-year contract and elevation to the rookie list.
Going on Sunday’s performance, his AFL debut could come in round one against West Coast.
“Just working on my fitness,” he told Fox Footy post-match. “I’m a pretty unfit bloke to be honest with you.
“Coming over to AFL I’m just buggered about five minutes into the game so (working on my) fitness and my tackle.”
Earlier this month, Preuss briefly enraged Andrew Swallow when he spear tackled the former captain during an intra-club match.
Preuss was their No.1 ruckman in last weekend’s win over Sydney.
Asked after the Hawthorn win if Preuss had given them something to think about for round one, assistant coach Josh Drummond said “absolutely, he does.”
On Sunday, Preuss combined well with their top ruckman Todd Goldstein, who returned from injury.
“It’s a great problem to have … they don’t grow on trees, those big fellas, so it’s good to have a couple up and going,” Drummond said.
Fellow ruckman Majak Daw also joined Goldstein, Robbie Tarrant and Scott Thompson in making successful returns from injury.
While Ryan Clarke suffered a corked thigh on Sunday, and Mason Wood’s hamstring injury two days ago has ruled him out for the start of the season, Drummond said North’s injury situation was easing.
“It was probably more worrying a few weeks ago … but today we got a number back,” he said.
Hawthorn pair James Frawley and Will Langford suffered head knocks, but assistant Cameron Bruce said they were also not serious injuries.
