51 minutes ago, Kev said:

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.

Heath - Lost as in not good enough or not up to scratch on what is being implemented by the new coach?

First team in VFL/AFL to win a premiership from 10th

Bookmark it!

4. Langford

5. Lindsay

6. Windsor

Enough to get anyone excited

How was Kentfield looking?

I went to the AFLW training for hugs and all I got was a restraining order

3 minutes ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Heath - Lost as in not good enough or not up to scratch on what is being implemented by the new coach?

I thought Heath looked lost in respect to social capacity. I reckon he needs a buddy up system. He was searching, but didn’t have connection with anyone. Football wise he was fine. My guess is they will get round him and him around others, just needs a little time.

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by Kev

7 minutes ago, Go Ds said:

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.

He was fantastic last year and will play a different role with a different game plan as well doing a second season. There is no doubt he can improve significantl

5 hours ago, Demonland said:

Steele, Jiath and Mihocek kicking to each other in a triangle.

4 hours ago, Demonland said:

Mihocek, Steele & Jiath now training away from the main group.

Not rehab per se but some agility work.

I'm prepared for the media beat-up saying something like, "Cultural problems persist at the Demons with new players forced to train apart from the rest of the squad."

4 minutes ago, Kev said:

I thought Heath looked lost in respect to social capacity. I reckon he needs a buddy up system. He was searching, but didn’t have connection with anyone. Football wise he was fine. My guess is they will get round him and him around others, just needs a little time.

Ah that’s rough, poor fella.

He will be fine. As you said, just needs a little time.

2 minutes ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Ah that’s rough, poor fella.

He will be fine. As you said, just needs a little time.

Gawn and the rucking fraternity will take Heath under the wing.

They are young men and it is easy to get "lost" on the first day in a new environment.

So no matty Scarlett there or our other new assistants?

Did anyone watching speak to king?

I hope Jack steele was happy to be there

24 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

How was Kentfield looking?

I didn't see much of Kentfield, as others took my attention. Great that he will get a full pre-season, unlike last season, was the conversation I had with another watcher.

29 minutes ago, Kev said:

I thought Heath looked lost in respect to social capacity. I reckon he needs a buddy up system. He was searching, but didn’t have connection with anyone. Football wise he was fine. My guess is they will get round him and him around others, just needs a little time.

Big Max will sort him

37 minutes ago, Kev said:

Gawn and the rucking fraternity will take Heath under the wing.

They are young men and it is easy to get "lost" on the first day in a new environment.

Actually a lot of people can be shy. It's a slight fail that in the last few weeks that he hasnt been set up with mentors if that's the case. I'm a little surprised.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Go Ds

48 minutes ago, Wrecker46 said:

He was fantastic last year and will play a different role with a different game plan as well doing a second season. There is no doubt he can improve significantl

I certainly expect he'll improve. But I'm asking how that happens in a few months down time.

This is a massive pre-season for van rooyen

4 hours ago, Ditcha said:

I am attended most of the training session today. I had the great pleasure of talking to my great friend the wonderful Ghostwriter. I also met Kev. I was most impressed with how fit everyone looks. Also great see all sessions been performed at great pressure. Also great to see no soccer balls at training as they are playing AFL and not soccer. Also while at training my 2026 membership pack was delivered.

Great to read Ghosty and Kev are so fit given the length of the season they face😂

Edited 51 minutes ago51 min by #11-TonyAnderson
Spelling mistake

1 hour ago, Go Ds said:

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.

Yes it is most definitely possible esp at this age — both growing physically & in stature.. but how specifically? Cus Harvey is a frarkin STUD!!!

Really hope Harvey keeps #4 — already gave me Bont vibes & o rkn he’s leaning into it & wants to be a top 20 player by years end, kid believes it in his soul & is going to rip apart the ceilings most have for him this year.

Would also love X to keep #5, back himself!

can’t wait to get to training this week, is Weds swag at Gosch???

6 hours ago, Salems Lot said:

Gotta love TMac being there. What a pro!!

Doesn’t TMac have 1 or 2 little kids at home?

Enough said

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

How was Kentfield looking?

Slim as - up and about!

1 hour ago, Go Ds said:

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.

I think Go DS that Harvey Langford continued to improve throughout the year and to be honest most on here expected that he would continue to get better in ‘26. We have a couple of big holes to fill so a lot of expectation will fall his way along with Lindsay, Windsor, Tholstrup, Rivers and Steele but Riv and Langford in particular.

1 hour ago, dees189227 said:

So no matty Scarlett there or our other new assistants?

Did anyone watching speak to king?

I hope Jack steele was happy to be there

Rory Atkins was there. Also I believe Taylor Whitford who will also take on a developmental role. Nathan Jones also. Only Scarlett I didn't spot (booked for just one day per week) - apparently King is still working on Hawkins and that will be a specialist role - i.e. maybe once a fortnight...

10 minutes ago, Tolstoys Nudge said:

Really hope Harvey keeps #4 — already gave me Bont vibes & o rkn he’s leaning into it & wants to be a top 20 player by years end, kid believes it in his soul & is going to rip apart the ceilings most have for him this year.

Would also love X to keep #5, back himself!

can’t wait to get to training this week, is Weds swag at Gosch???

Wed - 8.45 am Gosch's.

4 hours ago, Fritta and Turner said:

Lever was moving freely.