https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1869499/demon-trio-sign-on

Edited August 22, 2025Aug 22 by jnrmac

All three could be quality players with valuable characteristics that can make our team much less predictable.

This might be a more significant announcement than the low-profile would suggest.

Interesting that they are all rookies. I guess we won't have many spots on our main list once White and Sinema get picked up.

I don't know much about Mentha but both AMW and Culley have shown real promise. Seeing how they develop is something to look forward to in 2026.

I could see all three in our starting 22 next year.

AMW would likely be playing now if he hadn't injured his ACL and Mentha could fill the small forward void inside 50 while Kozzy plays more midfield time.

Culley could be anything.

8 minutes ago, Demon Jack said:

I could see all three in our starting 22 next year.

AMW would likely be playing now if he hadn't injured his ACL and Mentha could fill the small forward void inside 50 while Kozzy plays more midfield time.

Culley could be anything.

AMW did his ACL, PCL and MCL iirc.

Horrible injury, no idea how hard it will be to recover from that. Are there any other examples in the AFL?

Very happy to be keeping AMW. He had a few clubs show interest in him.

He has a lot of the attributes of a modern day half back flanker that we could use. Namely speed and ball use. Reckon he will feature strongly next year.

3 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Very happy to be keeping AMW. He had a few clubs show interest in him.

He has a lot of the attributes of a modern day half back flanker that we could use. Namely speed and ball use. Reckon he will feature strongly next year.

AMW back in the squad puts a bit of pressure on Salem and also potentially provides cover for Rivers or McVee to spend more time in the middle too.

I think his injury probably set back some of those plans.

They all need to work on their...moustaches.

25 minutes ago, deanox said:

AMW back in the squad puts a bit of pressure on Salem and also potentially provides cover for Rivers or McVee to spend more time in the middle too.

I think his injury probably set back some of those plans.w

Salem goes to slow past it.

Hate the rookie list, scrap this nonsense.

What do they get paid like 70K a year?

AMW on his 4th year now?

You are either on an AFL list or not

5 minutes ago, DubDee said:

Hate the rookie list, scrap this nonsense.

What do they get paid like 70K a year?

AMW on his 4th year now?

You are either on an AFL list or not

Tbh I can see arguments both ways. Scrap the Rookie... youll probably have 50 or so kids never getting a foot in.

Not a fan of repeat signing though. Either legitimise the player or cut.

29 minutes ago, demon3165 said:

Salem goes to slow past it.

I tried putting that into Google Translate and it crashed the program.

1 hour ago, beelzebub said:

Tbh I can see arguments both ways. Scrap the Rookie... youll probably have 50 or so kids never getting a foot in.

Not a fan of repeat signing though. Either legitimise the player or cut.

True.

But I’d add 3 spots to the primary list and they get paid properly

Some miss out but with 19 teams the talent is diluting

2 hours ago, Demonstone said:
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I tried putting that into Google Translate and it crashed the program.

Well, sometimes Google Translate gets mixed up with common sense questions and doesn't update its intelligence program.

2 hours ago, Demonstone said:

I tried putting that into Google Translate and it crashed the program.

36 minutes ago, DubDee said:

True.

But I’d add 3 spots to the primary list and they get paid properly

Some miss out but with 19 teams the talent is diluting

The point is... the cap.

You won't fit at many in.... again 50/60 odd kids miss out a year..

Rookie Lists can throw up surprises..

6 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

I don't know much about Mentha but both AMW and Culley have shown real promise. Seeing how they develop is something to look forward to in 2026.

From Whitford's player review post-Boxhawks:

Ricky Mentha (11 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal) 

"Ricky started the game as good as anyone, probably the best player on the ground in the first 15 minutes. He’s showing these game-breaking moments; we are now looking to grow the brilliant patches into more consistent four-quarter performances."

Congratulations to all 3 players getting extensions for next year in 2026!

In particular, Jai Culley who is very exciting!

GO DEMONS IN 2026! 🔴🔵👹

I'm good with all 3. They can easily turn into quality performers.

Good job guys

18 hours ago, beelzebub said:

Tbh I can see arguments both ways. Scrap the Rookie... youll probably have 50 or so kids never getting a foot in.

Not a fan of repeat signing though. Either legitimise the player or cut.

it actually benefits the club as x% of their wage is paid outside the cap i believe, which is why some teams will leave spots open after the ND and then sign SPP players etc to overload their rookie list more so than their senior with a 36-6 split compared to a 38-4

on the issue of demoting veterans etc to the rookie list i would change it so that you can only slide players down (no DFA attached) as they come off their draft contract and theyve played less than 10 games. so they really are rookies, later ND selections who are taking longer drafted in the later rounds, dead set rookies that need an extra year or so to develop. none of this gunston marc murphy nonsense and also not your mcadam/laurie types being pushed down to hide contract years teh club would ideally like to get out of

21 hours ago, DubDee said:

Hate the rookie list, scrap this nonsense.

What do they get paid like 70K a year?

AMW on his 4th year now?

You are either on an AFL list or not

The base wage for a rookie is 105k in 2026.

The base wage for an experienced player in 150k.

But aside from 4k match payments any rookie that plays gets a 3k bonus and more bonuses for 6 and 11 games.

Players also stay on the rookie list but get paid as experienced players. Culley and AMW would almost certainly be signing for amounts of experienced players not second year 19 year old rookiee.

The list exists just so clubs can draft guys for 1 year deals if they’re fringe talents and to spread talent around so clubs can’t keep all 44 on a main list.

It should be called a supplemental list but it’s not a big deal that it still exists with a silly name.

17 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

From Whitford's player review post-Boxhawks:

Ricky Mentha (11 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal) 

"Ricky started the game as good as anyone, probably the best player on the ground in the first 15 minutes. He’s showing these game-breaking moments; we are now looking to grow the brilliant patches into more consistent four-quarter performances."

Ricky has improved heaps in this year. At the start of the season he looked a bit lost and struggled to get involved. Since getting a permanent spot forward he has really grown and shown his speed and skills in bursts.

19 hours ago, DubDee said:

True.

But I’d add 3 spots to the primary list and they get paid properly

Some miss out but with 19 teams the talent is diluting

Whilst their salary largely pales in comparison to a player on the primary list, they are recovering a minimum of $105,000 plus substantial match payments under the current CBA ($4,000 minimum). Not saying it is equitable, but it’s damn better than what it used to be for the work they put in.

36 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

The base wage for a rookie is 105k in 2026.

The base wage for an experienced player in 150k.

But aside from 4k match payments any rookie that plays gets a 3k bonus and more bonuses for 6 and 11 games.

Players also stay on the rookie list but get paid as experienced players. Culley and AMW would almost certainly be signing for amounts of experienced players not second year 19 year old rookiee.

The list exists just so clubs can draft guys for 1 year deals if they’re fringe talents and to spread talent around so clubs can’t keep all 44 on a main list.

It should be called a supplemental list but it’s not a big deal that it still exists with a silly name.

Well said, missed your post before I replied in kind above.

Culley, yes, yes. AMW and Mentha. why not!