Pre-season Training starts on Monday and from the AFL site ~ Complete guide to your club's off-season.

Training return: The first-to-fourth year players resume on Monday, November 6, with the rest – except draftees – returning on Monday, November 20. The Demons will again hold their pre-season training camp in Maroochydore in January.

Injury list: Co-captain Jack Viney (foot), Dean Kent (shoulder), Tim Smith (navicular bone) and Aaron vandenBerg (heel) will be in the rehab group up to Christmas. Swingman Tom McDonald (ankles) is on a running program and will be integrated into the main group in late December, while Pat McKenna (hamstring) will start on a modified program and Lochie Filipovic will rehab interstate before returning in December. Jesse Hogan (hamstring) will be in the main group from November 20.

Draft picks: 29, 31, 36, 47 84, 102

Arrived: Harley Balic (traded from Fremantle), Jake Lever (traded from Adelaide)

Departed: Colin Garland (retired) Liam Hulett (delisted), Ben Kennedy (delisted), Heritier Lumumba (retired), Jake Spencer (delisted), Jack Trengove (delisted free agent to Port Adelaide), Jack Watts (traded to Port Adelaide), Mitch White (delisted)

Major off-field moves: Jade Rawlings is the Casey Demons' new senior coach, taking over from Justin Plapp, who becomes an assistant with Melbourne's AFL side. Recently retired defender Colin Garland is also moving into various coaching roles at the club, including with the AFL team, Next Generation Academy and AFL Women's, as well as being the VFLW Casey Demons' inaugural senior coach. Melbourne also appointed Peter Maynard as Casey's general manager of football, a role where he will oversee the VFL, VFLW and NGA programs.

Round one: Geelong, MCG, Sunday, March 25, 3.20pm AEDT

Premiership odds: $16 (CrownBet)

We say: The time is now for the Demons, who last played finals in 2006 and missed the 2017 post-season by just 0.5 per cent after a disappointing round 23 loss to Collingwood. Jake Lever's addition will strengthen an already solid defence, and their talented young crop – including Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca, Angus Brayshaw, Sam Weideman, Jesse Hogan and Jayden Hunt – should be ready to go to another level. The lack of Thursday and Friday night exposure (only one match) is a disappointment, but six of Melbourne's first seven matches are in Victoria and it doesn't have back-to-back six-day breaks or interstate travel. – Marc McGowan

Just a note that moderation on training threads will be strict on the issue of poster abuse. 

Please respect each other's views and no personal attacks on players, posters or moderators ?

Thanks.

Looking forward to seeing our newbies at the club. WJ do you know when Lever will start training?

15 minutes ago, deebug said:

Looking forward to seeing our newbies at the club. WJ do you know when Lever will start training?

So, Lever's a fourth year player (he played at Adelaide for three years) so he should be back on Monday.

Just now, Chelly said:

So, Lever's a fourth year player (he played at Adelaide for three years) so he should be back on Monday.

Thank you, wasn't sure if he had more time since he played in the GF? 

I think they get a set number of weeks off (6 or 8?) from their last game. Given Lever played in the GF he may return later than the others. Having said that, sometimes players come back to training earlier out of their own volition 

Edited November 4, 20178 yr by Moonshadow

Just now, Moonshadow said:

I think they get a set number of weeks off (6 or 8?) from their last game. Given Lever played in the GF he may return later than the others

I thought that as well.

6 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Just a note that moderation on training threads will be strict on the issue of poster abuse. 

Please respect each other's views and no personal attacks on players, posters or moderators ?

Thanks.

Hells Bells and Calamity Jane

There's something new on Demonland !

Great OP WJ. 

I wonder whose house will be the first to be trained down?

16 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Just a note that moderation on training threads will be strict on the issue of poster abuse. 

Please respect each other's views and no personal attacks on players, posters or moderators ?

Thanks.

Fantastic to hear - as well moderated as the Jack Watts' debate?

Edited November 4, 20178 yr by jumbo returns

Based on Lever’s Instagram account he is still in France.  Don’t forget he played for an extra 5 weeks after our boys capitulated in around 23.  I would expect he gets some additional grace period.  

Anyone have information as to time or venue of training?

9 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Anyone have information as to time or venue of training?

Surely the club has sent an email out to members, or it's at least on the website...

At the risk of upsetting 'Sat'...the club really do need to engage better with the membership.

1 hour ago, rjay said:

Surely the club has sent an email out to members, or it's at least on the website...

At the risk of upsetting 'Sat'...the club really do need to engage better with the membership.

Maybe the first session is a debrief and light gym or pool session where members can't be involved.

Just out of curiosity, why did Plapp and Rawlings switch? I find that odd as Jade is highly regarded.

32 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Maybe the first session is a debrief and light gym or pool session where members can't be involved.

Exactly right, they don't advertise the times of the 1 to 4 year training, usually leave it till whole squad on 20th, the first day is usually skin fold etc with a light jog and kick

I attended a couple of early ones coz I asked the players

Edited November 5, 20178 yr by Satyriconhome

1 minute ago, SFebey said:

Just out of curiosity, why did Plapp and Rawlings switch? I find that odd as Jade is highly regarded.

Rawlings has his Level 4 now, applied for Suns job, in Casey he has his own team, that way we don't lose him, and Plapp's next step on coaching ladder

16 minutes ago, SFebey said:

Just out of curiosity, why did Plapp and Rawlings switch? I find that odd as Jade is highly regarded.

Rawlings probably wants his own team to control and put himself up for senior gigs.

Best condition that they have ever been come back in, gee he's muscled up since last year, skills are a lot better, wow he's running a lot faster and longer have I missed any.

1 hour ago, demon3165 said:

Best condition that they have ever been come back in, gee he's muscled up since last year, skills are a lot better, wow he's running a lot faster and longer have I missed any.

Smallest rehab group of all time.

20 hours ago, SFebey said:

Just out of curiosity, why did Plapp and Rawlings switch? I find that odd as Jade is highly regarded.

I like the switch. Just freshens things up a little without the risk of rocking the boat too much.

Have any players returned with bleached hair? 

Are we training the house down? ??

On 04/11/2017 at 6:15 PM, Moonshadow said:

I think they get a set number of weeks off (6 or 8?) from their last game. Given Lever played in the GF he may return later than the others. Having said that, sometimes players come back to training earlier out of their own volition 

I guess ever if he doesn’t actually join in training he will surely be at the club and involved getting to know and integrating with his new team mates. 

On 05/11/2017 at 10:09 AM, jumbo returns said:

Fantastic to hear - as well moderated as the Jack Watts' debate?

Only took 10 posts for the name JW to be mentioned ??

2 hours ago, demon3165 said:

Best condition that they have ever been come back in, gee he's muscled up since last year, skills are a lot better, wow he's running a lot faster and longer have I missed any.

Presumably the word he is generic and all inclusive.  ?

2 hours ago, D4Life said:

Reading about the Tigers focus on mindfulness on the weekend, will the Demons take this on, as poor starts and switching off during games, seemed to be our greatest issues this year.

Roos was really big on this.  His wife Tammy did a bit of work with the players and I recall some saying it really helped them.  Post Neeld, he and Tammy were starting behind the eight ball but still helped achieve a much improved mindset and consistency during the 3 years.

Roos employed it at Syndey and they also went onto win a flag.  Captain Kirk was one who really embraced 'mindfulness'.  Also. I read recently that Dusty did regular sessions to help him - can't remember if it was meditation, yoga or both.  Cotchin also spoke highly of the program.

Some might say 'mindfulness' is all a bit airy fairy but when really tough guys like Kirk and Dusty take it on then it is worth paying attention.

Goodwin is more about contest and competitiveness.   Also, I think Goodwin wanted to leave Roos' initiatives behind and introduce his own.  So to answer your question, I doubt 'mindfulness' will be back at the Demons.

Nonetheless, Richmond and Sydney have shown the value of both. 

Edit:  The article D4life refers to http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/mindfulness-and-meditation-helped-richmond-break-afl-premiership-drought-20171103-gzed1o.html

Edited November 6, 20178 yr by Lucifer's Hero