EVERTON’S pre-season walkabout down under may not have progressed beyond a gentle stroll yet, but victory in Melbourne suggested there are plenty of reasons to be cheerful for the new season.

The Toffees sealed the second victory of their Australian tour with a comfortable if unspectacular display against new A-league side Melbourne Heart.

David Moyes used the opportunity of this second warm-up game to hand debuts to Portugese striker Joao Silva and ex-Leeds United forward Jermaine Beckford, and used all but one of his nine-strong substitute bench.

While the Blues laboured at times on a scrappy pitch, evidence of the growing strength in depth of this squad was enough to send the Australian Evertonians who braved a rainy, wind-swept evening in this fine city home happy.

Jack Rodwell again suggested this will be the season when he stamps his mark emphatically on the premier league, with a composed and elegant first half display.

Always assured and comfortable in possession, the 19-year-old sealed another strong performance with a close-range goal after fine work by fellow young prospect Seamus Coleman.

The score-line could have been more convincing. The Blues should really have scored three, with Louis Saha wasting a second minute penalty for a foul on Coleman.

But the classy Frenchman atoned for the spot-kick howler with a second half strike from outside the box which nestled comfortably in the top left-hand corner of the net.