(5/5) pic.twitter.com/joAG9FLLnI

— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) November 10, 2025

I got a totally different vibe from Checkers and Jack (Steele). Both really lovely guys but both had the air of a kid at a new school. I warmly welcomed both and told them they’re gonna love it at our club and they’ll settle in soon enough. Two new players who are decency personified.

29 minutes ago, Fritta and Turner said:

Jeffo was there.

Weather cool, overcast.

When i arrived only TC, Ghosty and some trainers were there. Ghosty gave the players her traditional welcome.

I reckon TMc would turn out to train in a blizzard.

Rehabers were CJ, AMW and Brodie M, though CJ and AMW did some ot the other team drills as well.

Brodie is old/mature enough to exchange some pleasantries with the track watchers.

Lever was moving freely.

As mentionned they trained with big elastic bands, one pulling the other. I tried that once, didnt end well.

Go Dees.

41 minutes ago, Harvey Wallbanger said:

Chaplin took the match sim. King seemed hands-off. Spotted Rivers, Atkins and Whitford - and Selwyn of course. Did not see Jonesy today - nor Scarlett?

Jones was there today

Impressions from first session.

Jai Culley is the real deal

Jefferson was surprisingly agile and active in the in-close handball comp

Roo looked full of confidence

Lever moved freely

Langford even better than before

Windsor cut it up in running half back role… disposal as before

Petty looked poised

Berry confident in traffic

Lever not in rehab!?

You beauty, we need a massive year from him.

Lever, Turner, Petty is a solid tall backline for the next few years

So excited by this...let's f'n go!

If the players don't have the new gameplan down by the end of the session Kingy can GAGF!

5 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Roo looked full of confidence

He said the new haircut is a keeper because it makes him more streamlined. He was dead serious. Bless him

I love the confidence of Lindsay and Langford grabbing numbers 4 and 5

Sends a message to those who wanted out

Hopefully they are their new numbers

Thanks to everyone for the reports

I am so pumped!

The new recruits all rocking up is great

We go rid of some egos but did not recruit any

32 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

I got a totally different vibe from Checkers and Jack (Steele). Both really lovely guys but both had the air of a kid at a new school. I warmly welcomed both and told them they’re gonna love it at our club and they’ll settle in soon enough. Two new players who are decency personified.

Thanks to all the reports and track watchers but especially to you GW.

It's great to have so much info flowing from both the blokes and the Women's teams. Thanks for the effort you put in.

Exciting times, a new coaching and playing group coming together and the girls kneck deep in a finals campaign.

Go Dees

3 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

I’ve met all the new guys. They’re all AWESOME. I’m madly in love with CJ!!!

Well you know what they say.....

Any observations on Berry, can he football?

First I see is Jared Rivers, working with Jefferson and McDonald. During the session he was quiet and observant.

King has a strong presence, talks to them and regularly gives them instructions during drills and sims. Chaplin led the session, Jones taking some close quarter competitive drills. A few new others, trainers and tech staff. Taylor (drafter) walking around the paddock with Richardson (head of something), and at times they are with Guerra (CEO).

They started with goal kicking and a few doing kick to kick, before they got down to the structured stuff.

The emphasis was competitive footy, with some contact and plenty of intensity. They did a few drills that were mainly warm-ups, though predominantly did sims. They didn’t perform handball games or soccer. Finished with goal kicking. Not one of them did the snaps and trick shots from the boundary.

Mihocek looks big, in runners and doing a variety of endurance runs.

AMW runs hard, looks happy and is pushing himself, in Light duties.

Steel quietly goes about it.

Heath is a JVR double though bigger, appearing a little lost at times.

Berry quiet, a little fumbly.

Jiath has light duties, as is Johnson and Henderson (they did some of the sims).

Langford is looking taller.

Windsor missed a few kicks, though was in everything, getting to sequential tackles.

I liked what Howes was doing, lots of pressure.

The Sparrow looked powerful.

Mentha has bulked up around the hips.

Henderson is all muscle.

Culley ready to go.

General feel was one of getting down to business, didn’t appear to be much bonding amongst them.

Weather was good for a first up, overcast, cool and no wind.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Kev

Thanks all trackwatchers, reporters and posters, sounds like an exciting day for all. We are looking out the window of the “Carnival Adventure” in Sydney Harbour we sail out in an hour, so I am a bit weary from the travel and queues that started at 5:45 this morning (7oC) when our daughter picked us up and dropped us off at the airport, now a comfortable 22-23 degrees. Heading up to Moreton Island and return Friday. Looking forward to Wednesday and zfriday reports if I still have access.👍😁

Love the reports!!

Thank you everyone.

I reckon Jai Culley will become a really important player for us if he stays fit. Massive break out season next year LFG!

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

I love the confidence of Lindsay and Langford grabbing numbers 4 and 5

Sends a message to those who wanted out

Hopefully they are their new numbers

I reckon they are (Langford 4, Lindsay 5) - you don't just grab them randomly - sign them both long term. Reckon CJ also keeps the No. 14 he had on. Culley in No. 13? That would be a big call.

Nos 19 and 20 kept for the two top draftees, and surely Steele finds a No. 9 that fits, not the 46 he was wearing today....

1 minute ago, Harvey Wallbanger said:

I reckon they are (Langford 4, Lindsay 5) - you don't just grab them randomly - sign them both long term. Reckon CJ also keeps the No. 14 he had on. Culley in No. 13? That would be a big call.

Nos 19 and 20 kept for the two top draftees, and surely Steele finds a No. 9 that fits, not the 46 he was wearing today....

Berry in 38 works - the "smokey". Particularly given with 42-45 are taken....

1 hour ago, FireInTheBennelly said:

Any observations on Berry, can he football?

Definitely a project - he is not jumping into the first 23, but I am sure that that wasn't the expectation. He did the match sim and I noticed deep conversations with Chaplin at times. A lot for him to learn - so a big pre-season and a close watch at Casey in 2026. Probably defence to start.....we'll all need to be patient.

1 hour ago, demon3165 said:

Well you know what they say.....

Once you've hugged Jiath you stay on that path?!

1 minute ago, Go Ds said:

Once you've hugged Jiath you stay on that path?!

Well he is from Gippsland, after all.....

1 hour ago, waynewussell said:

Impressions from first session.

Jai Culley is the real deal

Jefferson was surprisingly agile and active in the in-close handball comp

Roo looked full of confidence

Lever moved freely

Langford even better than before

Windsor cut it up in running half back role… disposal as before

Petty looked poised

Berry confident in traffic

Im not trying to be a smart Alec here but can Langford or whoever improve over a ten- week break? What? More weights? He's grown? Niggling injuries have cleared up? Im sure players go into preseasons with a better attitude or newfound confidence and emerge round one as a better player. But just from 10 weeks rest? Is that possible? I'm curious.

Edited 39 minutes ago39 min by Go Ds