Welcome back to Demonland for those like me who have been on vacation. I’m posting this with some trepidation because of a certain amount of uncertainty surrounding the return of preseason training in 2025 after a flurry of weddings including those of our coach, one of our superstar players and a former premiership champion player and bloke, not to mention the recent mysterious incident that occurred on the Mornington Peninsula. 

I believe that the team reassembles this morning at Casey Fields (fitting because it’s the closest training facility to Sorrento). At least that’s what I was led to believe from despatches in late 2024, although the fog of the festive season and new year celebrations might be playing tricks on me.

To add to my trepidation is this ominous piece of information gleaned from the MFC website:-

“Some sessions in the new year are returning to Casey Fields and due to the nature of the facility those sessions will be closed to the public, unless otherwise advertised below.”

Since I couldn’t locate any relevant information below, I can only assume that we won’t be receiving many reports from training if indeed, it proceeds today, especially given that this is the time of year when the snakes of Casey Fields come out of hibernation to congregate outside the fences of that facility.

One of our regular correspondents has used the break to make a tree disguise but I believe it has yet to be tested as snake proof. So, in case there are no reports forthcoming on today’s activities, here is a picture taken in Bali to remind you all of what some of our players look like these days.

Welcome to 2025!!!

I've been told that training is tomorrow (Friday) at 10am so I'm a bit confused now.

21 minutes ago, Matt Demon said:

I've been told that training is tomorrow (Friday) at 10am so I'm a bit confused now.

Worse comes to worse, our correspondent stays in his tree disguise for 24 hours. No biggie.

11 minutes ago, Deeman said:

Worse comes to worse, our correspondent stays in his tree disguise for 24 hours. No biggie.

Why would he disguise himself as something a snake might climb?

Some sort of sexual, only fans side hustle?

Personally I'd disguise myself as a predator that eats snake. So perhaps rock up in a Hawks or Eagles jumper.

12 minutes ago, binman said:

Why would he disguise himself as something a snake might climb?

Some sort of sexual, only fans side hustle?

Personally I'd disguise myself as a predator that eats snake. So perhaps rock up in a Hawks or Eagles jumper.

I'd never wear a Hawks or Eagles jumper. Some things just aren't worth it.

How well we train at Casey will influence how high we finish at the end of the H & A season.

It's all a big game of snakes and ladders.

are we there yet?

35 minutes ago, binman said:

Why would he disguise himself as something a snake might climb?

Some sort of sexual, only fans side hustle?

Personally I'd disguise myself as a predator that eats snake. So perhaps rock up in a Hawks or Eagles jumper.

Then there's this...

14 minutes ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Then there's this...

PF would be ok with it if you swapped the dog for Jefferson….

1 hour ago, Matt Demon said:

I've been told that training is tomorrow (Friday) at 10am so I'm a bit confused now.

Instagram shows some of the players turning up to training so definitely on today

Could someone please tell me if there is training Monday, January 13th, and if there is, time and location. Thank you. 

Instagram showing Casey training on now 

Yer well Iv'e been here for 30 minutes and the most interesting thing is watching an excavator dredging out one of the lakes, slitheras going in every diection and The Mahogany ship being discovered! There was a small group of players doing "grappling"exercises for a while but looks like an indoor session in the revamped indoor training facility. Tellingly there is nothing set up on the oval for drills and the demon truck carrying training equipment is not here! Also interestingly the gates are open on far side due to maintenance work on gazeebos. But Wait a few players now coming out with footies!

Edited January 8Jan 8 by picket fence

From my sister from another mister…

Strange training- only 8 on ground with one coach so far away I can’t see who they are and are only throwing the ball up and catching it. There seem to be enough cars there that would indicate they are all there. There’s no equipment out and the scoreboard is not lit up. None of the boys have numbers. They are definitely practising catching the ball though 😅 Ps I could do what they are doing. Can’t see if it’s Goodie with the 8/9 boys. The rest must be in the gym. Mmmmmmmm

Sounds like a down to business to me.

Same again folks more grappling exercises Midfield only about 15 or so involved, one thing I can say Clarry looks thinner than Ive seen for a while. Ground is being marked but again unless training starts at 11.00 doubtful would think indoor session as iterated. Goody trying to avoid peeping eyes has worked if the case Iv'e been here since 9.30. Thats it for me, am unavailable for next few weeks so if anyone can attend down at Slithera City good. I'll post again in a few weeks time. P.S Ground in magnificent condition!

Cheers P.F

Edited January 9Jan 9 by picket fence

3 hours ago, Matt Demon said:

I've been told that training is tomorrow (Friday) at 10am so I'm a bit confused now.

 

1 hour ago, Bendigo_Demon said:

Could someone please tell me if there is training Monday, January 13th, and if there is, time and location. Thank you. 

I’ll ask my guy about tomorrow and Monday then I’ll post here.

At this stage next Wednesday at 10am at Gosch’s is the only cert as far as I know. 

Hopefully players that were in the rehab group to end last year such as McAdam, Melksham and Turner are back in full training. 

Hopefully Spargo can kick on and be available for the practice matches and Gawn being out for the entire January doesn't impact too much on his season.

20 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

The rest must be in the gym. Mmmmmmmm

Yep - the rest are in the gym.

 

1 hour ago, Ghostwriter said:

 

I’ll ask my guy about tomorrow and Monday then I’ll post here.

At this stage next Wednesday at 10am at Gosch’s is the only cert as far as I know. 

It’s confirmed training at Gosch’s next Wednesday and at this stage there’s nothing scheduled for tomorrow or Monday at Gosch’s. 

Thank you

1 hour ago, Ghostwriter said:

It’s confirmed training at Gosch’s next Wednesday and at this stage there’s nothing scheduled for tomorrow or Monday at Gosch’s. 

A bit strange.. I would have thought training would start back with a bang, plenty of sessions!

3 hours ago, picket fence said:

A bit strange.. I would have thought training would start back with a bang, plenty of sessions!

I’ve got a feeling the serious stuff starts now but they’d prefer to keep things under wraps as much as possible. The website usually only mentions sessions that are open. So far the only sessions that are officially open sessions are on Monday the 20th of January at Casey, Wednesday the 22nd of January at Gosch’s and Friday the 14th of February at Casey.

That session at Casey on the 14th of February is puzzling because it’s part of the Family Day series yet it’s on a weekday after kids return to school. 🤷‍♀️ 

27 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

That session at Casey on the 14th of February is puzzling

Clear hint that Ryan Valentine will be training with the MFC boys.

6 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

It’s confirmed training at Gosch’s next Wednesday and at this stage there’s nothing scheduled for tomorrow or Monday at Gosch’s. 

Was there mention that while the AO is on theres no training at Goschs?