Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
Demonland

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

The 2025 AFL Draft Thread

Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

MELBOURNE has added to its forward line mosquito fleet, selecting the Gippsland Power’s Thomas Matthews with pick No. 30 in the 2025 Telstra AFL National Draft.

The Demons could have found value in the Gippsland captain, after a knee injury left the 171cm forward sidelined for much of 2025 and put a ceiling on his draft prospects.

In 2024 the powerful tackling machine thrived on pressure and powerful athleticism, bringing plenty of x-factor to kick 18 goals in 13 matches.

A dynamic pre-season this year, including four goals in a trial match for Vic Country, had Matthews poised to make a name for himself before injury hit.

Despite his height, Matthews is a pocket rocket in every sense of the word, regularly flying high to pull down soaring grabs.

Matthews joins fellow small forward Latrelle Pickett who was taken at pick No. 12 in last night’s first round.

Article.jpg?width=1064&height=600

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1
     

    Kids good. Be happy people. We have an excellent group of talented small forwards now.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 3
     

    Cal just said he is best mates with Bailey Humphrey we playing the long game

  • Quote
    • Love 1
    • Haha 4

    1 minute ago, Tom Dyson said:

    Left field?

    Left field???? Maybe outer edges of the Alpha Centauri System but I wonder

    Ricky Jackson like?????

  • Quote
    • Haha 3

    At 171cm (5'6" in the old money), he's only a bee's appendage taller than Nick Watson.

  • Quote
    • Clap 1
    2 minutes ago, BoBo said:

    Who’s this bloke??

    Bailey Humphrey best mate. That’s who

  • Quote
    • Love 1
    • Haha 1
    • Shocked 1
     
    Just now, Demonstone said:

    At 171cm (5'6" in the old money), he's only a bee's appendage taller than Nick Watson.

    Paul Callery says HI!

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Love 2

    Have the Dees looked at Brisbane’s small forwards success and started to build our own mosquito fleet?

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    5 minutes ago, picket fence said:

    Paul Callery says HI!

    Callery would say 'Lo wouldn't he?

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Haha 1
    9 minutes ago, picket fence said:

    EH ????? Speculative pick or utter genius???

    I’m only discovering this guy exists right now so…. Both?? Neither??

  • Quote
    • Haha 2
    8 minutes ago, Colm said:

    Bailey Humphrey best mate. That’s who

    For realsies?

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Just now, Demonsone said:

    What pick are they using for Kalani White?

    If he doesn't get bid on he goes straight to the rookie list

    Edited by Mickey

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
    7 minutes ago, picket fence said:

    Paul Callery says HI!

    Paul Callery was a neighbour of mine when I was a kid in South Oakleigh (now renamed East Bentleigh). He was great, even at age 11.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
    7 minutes ago, DeeMee said:

    Have the Dees looked at Brisbane’s small forwards success and started to build our own mosquito fleet?

    Brisbane’s?

    I reckon every premiership team since Cyril at the Hawks in 08 had great small forwards, including our side in ‘21.

    If we want Pickett on ball, and the flexibility to run Chin on the wing we need at least 2 new ones.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
    17 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

    At 171cm (5'6" in the old money), he's only a bee's appendage taller than Nick Watson.

    5’7”(.32)

  • Quote
    • Thanks 2

    Tom Matthews (Gippsland Power, small forward)
    The athletic forward was lauded for an enormous pre-season and a big start to 2025 earned him selection in the Vic Country squad at the U18s National Championships. Remarkably, though, he did all that with a PCL knee injury, suffered early in 2025 which meant he hardly trained, working hard just to get himself on the park on Saturdays. Eventually, the injury worsened and he featured in only half a game after early game - a wildcard round final for Gippsland where he showed his point-of-difference - forward 50 pressure - on a treacherous day for footy. The stymied year was highlighted by a four gaul outing in a Vic Country trial game against the Young Guns in May.
    Draft range: Late-rookie

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1

    JT is never afraid to work off the radar!

    Feels like it’s going to be very fun being a Dees supporter for the next few years!

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    • Thanks 1
    • Haha 1
    25 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

    Sam Allen gone to WCE.

    Here we go. Our turn now.

    wtf !!!?!?!!! Eagles

    Angry Wrestling GIF

    Sam Allen grew up a Dees fanatic

    We wanted him in red and blue

  • Quote
    • Haha 1
    • Sad 1
    • Angry 1
     

    Is that us done for the night?

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    11 minutes ago, DeeMee said:

    Have the Dees looked at Brisbane’s small forwards success and started to build our own mosquito fleet?

    All prelim teams were stacked with gun small forwards. It's the biggest hole on our list.

    Wonder if the football dept/recruiting team knew this, or whether King's assessment of our list has shaped how we've drafted.

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    • Thanks 1

    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • PREVIEW: Gold Coast

      Melbourne’s slow starts have been a troubling theme for a while. Against the Suns, they started slowly in both of their games, they trailed by 5.7.37 to 0.1.1 at quarter time at Peoples First Stadium in Round 16. This season, the story has remained the same and if the Demons fail to shake off this issue against the unbeaten Gold Coast Suns, they will be in serious danger of capitulating once again in their Easter Sunday showdown.

        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 1 reply
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 04

      Round 4 of the 2026 AFL Premiership Season is upon us and it is the last week of the early season byes. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Dees Finals chances? 😜

        • Haha
      • 5 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Gold Coast

      The Demons are back at the MCG for the second week in a row. They face the Suns off a 15 day break without their prized recruit and former Demon champion Christian Petracca. This will be a massive test for the Demons who will be facing a genuine Premiership contender. Who comes in and who goes out?

      • 202 replies
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Carlton

      The text messages started flooding in shortly after quarter time. One read: “Is Melbourne even at the ground?” Moments later, as Carlton’s Elijah Hollands kicked the first goal of the second term, the Blues held a commanding 43-point lead. By then, the Demons’ only score was a behind kicked by Brody Mihocek nearly five minutes into the game. Ironically, Mihocek would also register the last minor score of the day after the game took a dramatic turnaround. 

        • Clap
        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 4 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: Carlton

      The Demons snatched Victory form the Jaws of Defeat as they clawed their way back from 43 points down to win by 23 points in Max Gawn and Tom McDonald's 250th matches at the MCG. Never in Doubt!!!

        • Clap
        • Haha
        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 550 replies
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Carlton

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on TUESDAY, 31st March @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect the Dees miraculous 66 point turnaround win against the Blues at the G.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 49 replies
      Demonland
    View All

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.