Woohoo... yep.. just... woohooo

18 hours ago, Adam The God said:

As someone who was a coach for 20 years, if you've ever coached, you'll know that the best coaches are often not the best players. Bizarre, I know.

Brisbane 🏆🏆coach Fagan immediately jumps to mind

Part time 🤔

3 days a week ought to be fine ... 🙂 😉

9 hours ago, Demonland said:

Fixed....

My only concern with this is there seems to be a lot of part time coaches coming on. Hawkins, Scarlett, not sure if Russian is still with us and we are paying out Goodwins contract. We will obviously need a full array of line coaches on game day. How much of the soft cap are we using???? I would love us to bump up resources in the strength and conditioning department.

With Rivers coming on and Chaplin staying we probably don’t need Scarlett. Forward craft should be a priority so think Hawkins would be a great asset even in a part time role.

Edited 18 hours ago18 hr by Dee Viney Intervention

16 hours ago, dimmy said:

If the two Prima Donnas do not get what they want elsewhere, maybe we need some child care workers or kinder teachers..

Should I be reading "kinder" rhyming with "minder" or "hinder"?

14 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Wasn't cut out to be a senior coach, but by all reports he's one of the absolute best ball movement coaches in the game. Would be a great get and this link fills me with much more optimism than the one to Aaron Hamill.

1 minute ago, Dee Boys said:

Wasn't cut out to be a senior coach, but by all reports he's one of the absolute best ball movement coaches in the game. Would be a great get and this link fills me with much more optimism than the one to Aaron Hamill.

Gee I hope so.....

Signing up more coaches than players

16 minutes ago, Dee Boys said:

Wasn't cut out to be a senior coach, but by all reports he's one of the absolute best ball movement coaches in the game. Would be a great get and this link fills me with much more optimism than the one to Aaron Hamill.

I reckon there are a lot of assistants who are excellent assistants who just can't cut it in the hot seat but can get the most out of the players in their line.

Scarlett has agreed to a part time role per Mitch Cleary

13 minutes ago, Demonland said:

No piece of land, just a lovely townhouse in East Melbourne for Scarlett.

22 minutes ago, Demonland said:

If May comes back to the club, I reckon Scarlett will sort him out very quickly. That will be entertaining, to say the least

What's with all these part time roles?

Welcome to Rivers Scarlett Atkins and McLennan.

Humphreys coach at Gippsland and his mentor at Gold Coast. Nothing to see here.

MELBOURNE has added to its AFL coaching panel, welcoming three new names for the 2026 season.

Jared Rivers, Rory Atkins and Matthew Scarlett will all join Steven King’s coaching mix and don the red and blue next year.

A name familiar to Dees fans, Rivers returns to the club he called home for 10 seasons to take on an assistant coaching role, tasked with looking after the backline and team defence.

Rivers’ coaching CV includes five seasons at Collingwood between 2015 and 2019, three seasons at Collegians Football Club in the VAFA A Grade competition, and most recently, a stint at St Kilda.

Rivers played 150 games in the red and blue jumper – he totalled 194 AFL matches, having joined Geelong after his time at Melbourne – and was inducted as a Life Member of the club in 2015.

Melbourne GM of AFL Football Performance Alan Richardson said the club was thrilled to bring a favourite son home.

“It’s really exciting to welcome Jared back to the club in an assistant coaching capacity,” Richardson said.

“He has an incredibly strong understanding of the game and significant experience, having held coaching positions at the Pies, in the VAFA and with the Saints.

“We are excited by what Jared can add to our program, and look forward to welcoming him, his partner Sophie and their children Chloe, Charlotte and Isabella to the club.”

Atkins joins the Demons as a development coach, following a 13-year playing career.

The 31-year-old, who called time at season’s end having represented Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and Adelaide throughout his journey, will work closely with new Head of Development Taylor Whitford in helping the club’s youth thrive.

“We’re looking forward to having Rory on board as part of our development team,” Richardson said.

“We think he will have an immediate impact, having only recently retired from the game, and provide some unique insights for our younger players.

“We’re excited to welcome Rory, his partner Georgia and their daughter Daisy to the red and blue.”

Scarlett is set to bring experience aplenty, with Melbourne adding the former Cat as a specialist coach in a part-time capacity.

The Geelong legend, who achieved the ultimate success on three occasions, will work with the Demons’ talls in honing their craft.

“We’re really excited to have someone of Scarlo’s calibre with us, to work with our talls,” Richardson said.

“Scarlo featured at the top level for 15 seasons, and for our players to be able to learn from him and have his assistance is pretty special.

“We look forward to Scarlo getting to work, and welcoming his partner Milla and children Tayla, Charlie, Oliver and Henry to the Dees.”

The trio will combine with Troy Chaplin and Nathan Jones, who continue in their respective roles of looking after the forwards and midfield, as well as part-time ruck specialist coach Mark Jamar.

Rhett McLennan, newly appointed senior coach of the Casey Demons, will further assist in the development space of the AFL program, while Riley Bonner and Dylan Roberton will continue their support of the VFL program.

Combat and grappling coach Max Viney, too, will return for the 2026 season.

Melbourne’s AFL pre-season is set to commence in November.

Just now, Dannyz said:

Humphreys coach at Gippsland and his mentor at Gold Coast. Nothing to see here.

who was?

7 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

Welcome to Rivers Scarlett Atkins and McLennan.

Rhett McLennan, newly appointed senior coach of the Casey Demons, will further assist in the development space of the AFL program, while Riley Bonner and Dylan Roberton will continue their support of the VFL program.

Just now, Wells 11 said:

who was?

Assuming the new Casey head coach, pinched from Gippsland Power

1 minute ago, Demonland said:

Why does the X post say three new additions but the Instagram post says four (with McLennan)?

1 minute ago, Wells 11 said:

who was?

McLennan/ Atkins

1 minute ago, Wells 11 said:

who was?

THE CASEY Demons have appointed a new VFL Senior Coach, welcoming Rhett McLennan to the role for the 2026 season.

McLennan, who has spent the past six seasons at the helm of Gippsland Power, brings a wealth of knowledge to the job, having tallied 23 years of coaching experience.

His time with Gippsland, as the longest-serving head coach in the club’s history, has seen him lead the team to three of the last five preliminary finals, and achieve the minor premiership twice.

He has also helped develop 32 players who have been drafted to AFL, making Gippsland Power the most successful Talent League program in recent years.

McLennan’s playing career also speaks for itself, spanning 22 years, more than 300 senior games and three premierships.

Melbourne GM of AFL Football Performance Alan Richardson said the club was thrilled to appoint a highly experienced football person in McLennan.

“After a thorough process, we are really pleased to welcome Rhett as senior coach of the Casey Demons for the 2026 VFL season,” Richardson said.

“Rhett’s coaching philosophy, character and experience in helping his players reach their full potential made him a standout candidate, and we had no hesitation in offering him the role.

“In addition to his VFL commitments, Rhett will also work across our AFL program, with focus on the development space. We’re excited by what he can contribute here.

“We look forward to welcoming Rhett and his family to the club, ahead of an exciting season.”

McLennan replaces Taylor Whitford in the job, following his elevation to Melbourne’s Head of Development.