After an agonizingly long off-season the 2025 AFL Premiership Season is almost upon us and the Demons have their first practice hit out against the Kangaroos in a match simulation out at Arden Street.

The Demons will take on the Kangaroos in match simulation play, starting from 10am AEDT and broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo.

The play start time was brought forward from the initial 11am bounce, due to the high temperatures forecast. 

The match sim will consist of four 25-minute quarters, plus game-specific simulations at the end of the second and fourth quarters.

Following the match, the Casey Demons will face North Melbourne in a VFL practice match at 1pm.

Please note there is limited shade, seating and amenities at Arden Street Oval, so please prepare accordingly.

TRANSPORT

• Public transport is advised with North Melbourne Station, Macaulay Station and the 57 Tram all walking distance to the club
• Very limited street parking is available around the oval, however secure paid parking is available at Arden Gardens, 250m from the ground

AMENITIES AND WHAT TO BRING

• Arden Street has limited seating so feel free to bring picnic blankets and portable chairs for your comfort
• Food trucks, coffee and ice cream will be available on site as well as water taps. Fans are encouraged to BYO food and water bottles 
• Limited shade is available, so with high temperatures expected please wear sun smart clothes and hats, and apply sunscreen

Match simulation

Sat, Feb 22
North Melbourne v Melbourne at Arden Street Oval, 10am AEDT

2025 AAMI Community Series

Sun Mar 2
Fremantle v Melbourne, Rushton Oval, Mandurah, 3.10pm AWST (6.10pm AEDT)

10am Saturday?! At least North Melbourne is not far from the CBD, so us fans (and players) can go straight their from the clubs 

Is there anywhere to watch this online?

I’m hoping we come away with the 4 points. 🤞

WELCOME BACK

GAMEDAY THREAD!

I’ve missed you 🥹

 

 

‘Til the first bounce that is, then you’re dead to me. 😅
 

 

❤️💙

THE TEAMS 

 MELBOURNE

2. Jacob Van Rooyen
8. Jake Lever
10. Daniel Turner
13. Clayton Oliver
14. Jack Billings
16. Bailey Laurie
17. Jake Bowey
19. Harvey Langford
20. Xavier Lindsay
21. Matthew Jefferson
22. Blake Howes
24. Trent Rivers
25. Tom McDonald
26. Jed Adams
27. Marty Hore
28. Will Verrall
29. Tom Campbell
30. Harry Sharp
32. Tom Sparrow
33. Tom Fullarton
35. Harrison Petty
36. Kysaiah Pickett
37. Kade Chandler
38. Oliver Sestan
39. Ricky Mentha Jnr
40. Taj Woewodin
41. Kynan Brown
42. Aidan Johnson
45. Andy Moniz-Wakefield

NORTH MELBOURNE

2. Finn O'Sullivan
3. Harry Sheezel
4. Aidan Corr
5. Caleb Daniel
8. Bailey Scott
9. Luke Davies-Uniacke
10. Colby McKercher
11. Luke McDonald
12. Jy Simpkin
13. Darcy Tucker
15. Dylan Stephens
19. Griffin Logue
20. Nick Larkey
22. Taylor Goad
24. Tom Powell
25. Paul Curtis
26. Luke Parker
28. Jack Darling
29. Will Phillips
30. Charlie Comben
32. Toby Pink
34. Jackson Archer
38. Tristan Xerri
39. Finnbar Maley
41. Jacob Konstanty
44. Cam Zurhaar
46. Robbie Hansen Jnr

10am Saturday slot and then onto a 6pm Sunday slot vs. Freo. The prime time Dees of old are back!

Gameday. You blooody beauty.

score doesn’t matter much. As long as it’s not like 186.  Hoping we see no injuries for either side .  Blowout cobwebs and see some skills from our younger lot. 
north probably want to see more than we do,  they have a bit of experience with Parker and Darling,

 

im in 

Just want to see as many of the new players as possible. Hope they all get a run and we show some revised systems from the bomb it long we adopted. With different skill sets the Jefferson, JVR,  Turner , Fullarton, Lindsay , Langford, etc  will show what is possible in attack.

I reckon the defence is settled with May, Lever, Petty Tmac forming the tall base with big base and Hore, AMW, Salo, Bowey who knows as the smalls. Plenty of depth to cover peaks and injuries rest and recovery.

Even without Max today will be great. See what Verrall and TC can do.

Looking forward to meeting other Dland tragics.

GO DEES

1 hour ago, deejammin' said:

Is there anywhere to watch this online?

Fox

Years ago, there were no interclub practice games or match simulations for that matter. They just played intraclub games with probables vs possibles contesting each other in a very friendly atmosphere. They never played such games in the month of February either, given that the season started in mid-April and training started around four or five weeks before then.

Somewhere in the early 70s, they started playing practice matches against interstate clubs and other VFL clubs. I remember Peter “Crackers” Keenan playing in a game vs Port Adelaide. Nobody took the results seriously either because the good clubs rarely put their best team on the park. I recall Melbourne beating Carlton one year in a praccy match and, a few weeks later, playing them again in the opening round.  We did cop a couple of injuries in the game from memory.

Demon fans turned up to Princes Park chock full of confidence thinking we were a chance after their preseason triumph against the Blues and we were up by a couple of goals at quarter time. We were still ahead at half time, but just by a point or two but Carlton took control after the break and we only kicked one more goal for the game and ended up with getting thrashed by eight goals and they doubled our score.

Moral of the story - don’t take practice matches too seriously and just hope for no injuries.

I'm gonna go watch the first half or so, looking forward to seeying the new recruits for the first time, result means nothing but hopefully start off with a win.

Jefferson BAG WATCH

30 minutes ago, dpositive said:

I reckon the defence is settled with May, Lever, Petty Tmac forming the tall base with big base and Hore, AMW, Salo, Bowey who knows as the smalls. Plenty of depth to cover peaks and injuries rest and recovery.

With no May playing in this match, it will be interesting to see what Maxy's breakout boy Jed Adams can do.  Really hope he gets some good gametime and opptunitiy to get a taste at the higher level. 

Not sure what is keeping Maysie from playing in this game, but I'm assuming the fitness department are just keeping him on ice a bit to save him getting banged up before the season proper, which I'd support (noting he also played the indigenous all stars game a week or so ago).  It's not like experienced campaigners like him, Maxy and Vines really need that much match practice to hit their straps.

It's a pity that McVee pulled that hammy, because our defence was starting to look solid as a rock like with the line-up we will play down there this season.  I'd love to see us find a player the equivalent of Hibbo, but I guess some guys are almost one of a kind and hard to replace.

Obviously not playing for sheep stations as a team, but I always hope to see signs from those battling for a spot in the starting 22 that they have further developed and give us some good options to pick from.  Particularly looking at a few favourites like Kynan Brown, Woey Jnr, AMW, AJ and perhaps Sharp. 

If Jefferson does walk away with a bag, that could certainly make forwardline selection very interesting.  Will also be good to see all of JvR, Jefferson, Disco and AJ all working in the same forward line in various combinations at times perhaps.

I hope every one of our “possible” players have blinders today to make our  selectors job for round 1 as difficult as possible. Really looking forward to seeing them perform.

Got some BIG salmon yesteday, rode some HUGE waves but come 10.00 am on Foxtell, I will be seriously engaged!

Got a nice shady spot under a tree in the outer. It’s a gorgeous morning to watch the footy but a hot one if you’re playing. 

40 minutes ago, adonski said:

Jefferson BAG WATCH

Panic stations if he hasn’t kicked 3 snags by quarter time?

10 minutes ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

Got a nice shady spot under a tree in the outer. It’s a gorgeous morning to watch the footy but a hot one if you’re playing. 

Jealous that you are there Rab D. Can you post a photo? Think I have only been to Arden St once or twice and that was back in the early 80’s

As much as I value the outstanding reports from our track watchers, there’s nothing quite like watching footy through your own eyes.  I’m excited at the prospect!

The scoreboard will be irrelevant, but I’m hoping to get an early glimpse of what season ‘25 might look like for our Dees, both in terms of game style, and what our best team might look like.

 

Edited February 21Feb 21 by Deeoldfart
Typo

 

1 hour ago, adonski said:

Jefferson BAG WATCH

It's been stolen?

Forward Connection