TRAINING: Wednesday 3rd December 2025

A couple of Demonland Trackwatchers ventured out to a sunlit Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations from the Demon's Wednesday morning Preseason Training session.

DEESPENCER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

Hendo and Viney on the exercise bike.

McAdam and Matthews rehab. Bowser labs. AMW pulled out of some drills.

Warm up exercises seemed really footy movement focused. Cutting hard after receiving handballs. Simulating a ground ball and burst from pack.

Then in to a couple of groups of figure 8 kicking. This was sharper than I’ve seen us for a couple of years.

Latrelle Pickett balances up and has a bit of a hunched over technique but he gets the footy low and fast to team mates consistently.

Berry is a very reliable kick.

Jeff Jnr (Kalani White) has good skills, well done to the Suns academy coaches.

Ground split down the middle from goal.

Group A gets the ball in the back pocket and has to switch then take the ball up to score. Group B doing the same the other way. Group C resting. On pretty quick rotation.

8 on 5 so it’s not difficult. But focus on running hard to space and establishing a deep forward.

Quick fire handballs for one group of players. 2/3rds of the ground match sim for the others. Even numbers with a pink jumper going both ways.

Couple of very quick Latrell run down tackles. He wanted no part in a mark back with the flight with May bearing down but he was quickly back on the contest and pulled the Kossie ghost step where the defender had no read on where he was going before he lasered a kicked inside (which was intercepted but it was a good bad kick)

Xavier Taylor got the pink jumper and looked sharp presenting and using the footy, then bit of more that he could chew trying to run through 2 tacklers which sapped him off energy.

Having a close look at Riley Onley in 40. He was out run for a loose ball by Sharp but then nearly chased him down. Then he just about took mark of the year. Missed a regulation handball to Xavier Lindsay who cleaned it up, got it back to him on the run and his burst of speed opened it right up.

DEMON JACK'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

Just arrived and Jeffo is indeed training with the main group.

Bowey and McAdam running along the boundary.

Not sure if it's been touched on before, but it looks like AMW is also in full training

Now AMW is doing some individual drills. Might not be quite ready ready yet but doesn't look far away.

Tommy Matthews also doing some work on the boundary.

Lever looks fit and over his ankle issues. Moving freely.

Boys are currently working on a some quick transition drills. Handpass to a moving player who kicks it to a player on the lead. Once they mark it they handpass it and so on.

All and all, nice skills on show. Not too many flubbed kicks. Both Taylor and Trelly Pickett know how to find a chest. Nice skills on show.

Boys have now donned pink or white bibs and habe split into three groups and are playing a game of keepings off. Handpass to players wearing the same coloured bib while the other colour applies pressure.

May wraps Trelly up with a big bear tackle. Welcome to AFL footy young man!

Trelly hands it off to Kozzy who nails a pinpoint pass to JVR in the left forward pocket.

JVR absolutely shanks the snap. Expletives follow.

Disco's skills have been great to watch so far today. Looks primed for a big '26 wherever he ends up playing.

CJ has been a bit off with his disposal by hand today. Looks better when he elects to kick.

Jai Culley shrugs two tackles (losing his headband in the process) and is still able to get his handpass away.

May now doing some running on the boundary.

Windsor's kicking is sublime.

Lever looks to be completely over his ankle issues. Doesn't look hampered at all.

Riley Onley attempts an audacious grab in the centre of the ground to the gasps of the crowd. Doesn't quite nail his timing, but it looked great!

CJ will be an exciting watch off half back. As long as he plays within his limitations (his disposal by hand looked a bit off today) I think he'll be a good pick up. Loved his evasive work in some of the tight contest drills today.

Didn't notice Mihocek or Steele much.

WAYNE WUSSELL'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

Some impressions from today's session,

Bill continues to be a prolific link man, always trying to be evasive with the ball. generally, makes short kicks on all angles, but a few turnovers are costly.

Langford has grown! He is now very close to May in height and not far below in build. (He did look sore mid-session with a tweak of his upper left leg)

Salem is looking very good and will be in our 23 come round 1

Langdon motors on, and continues to give us drive

Bowey spent a lot of time running the boundary

Melksham had some concern with a leg problem. I thought I heard him tell a trainer that it was from the previous session. He got some massage fro the trainer for a while.

McAdam ran hard on the boundary line for most of the session

Started to notice the old run and long kicks from Riv.

Tom McDonald looks very fit

Petty is quicker than he is given credit for

At one point early on the brothers were in a group taking around-the-corner shots at goal. McAdam, Ricky jnr, AMW (who has joined the group) and 'Cussey' all succeeded. The odd man out was Kossie!

Watching the ruck pairs, Max v Tom Campbell, Max Heath v Kalani White. In summary, Max was impressive, as always, against a very strong and very experienced competitor. It is clear that Heath is too strong for Kalani at this stage of development.

I was impressed with Steele and Mihocek throughout, both in the sims and in the runs. Mihocek regularly led his group and seems to have fully recovered from any 2025 season niggles. Heath impressed more than he has previously with his size, marking and athleticism. CJ bursts like a maniac from half-back. He seems to have that Russell Rhino Richards approach to run and carry!

SLARTIBARTFAST'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

A good summary by all the track watchers so I've only these observations to add:

1. Trelly was leading his running group easily and looks very fit. He was cruising along while those behind him were clearly working hard. He also shows great footy IQ when in sims.

2. Riley Onley is not slow. I had that fear when we drafted him but today watching him he covered the ground really well and is a fascinating watch.

3. Hendo did little if anything. He's been doing lots of running but not today. Hope his groin hasn't flared.

4. Tommy Matthews is a chunky young man with a terrific grin 😁. Not doing much at the moment but I'm predicting "fan favourite" status.

5. I really like our trainers helping the rehab group. Players like Shane McAdam are doing heaps of running which I'd imagine is fairly difficult and boring but the trainers were often running with him (and others) offering encouragement. Same with Tommy Matthews who is doing all sorts of different hopping and jumping exercises. The trainers are really good with their advice and encouragement. They didn't run with Bowser because they couldn't keep up!

6. Tmac looks in ripping shape and Jed Adams was back today having missed Monday.

7. Oscar Berry, who has a very similar body shape to Sesto (but taller) looks very comfortable in all the drills with good skills. He is a project but he's well along the way, not like some of our other B rookies. We will know fairly quickly if we've "found one".

GHOSTWRITER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

TMac is the first person out. Very early and very keen.

Tommy Matthews … amazing news I just heard. He’ll be fit for selection by Round One. Pete is the head physio and he’d know.

Not a pleasant sight to see, Vines limping across from the rooms. And not just a slight limp, a prominent one. All good though, he’s just had an injection in his foot so it’s very tender. He’s here to support the boys.

Vines said he’s doing a lot of both stationary bike and pool. And when he wasn’t tapping players’ hands when they came on and off the ground or helping out with the rehab guys he was on the bike.

Oh my god. Adam Tomlinson just arrived and now my day is complete. 🥹 He’s really happy and is looking in great shape. He came to watch training and hang with the boys for a bit.

Xavier Taylor’s nickname is indeed “Reg” (his middle name is Reginald, his grandfather’s name). He came to the club with it and wasn’t sure it would stick, but it has. He’s also fine with “Reggie.”

We (the DA) need to know nicknames for the purpose of handheld banners and signs etc., as well as for chants. I was walking with Koz and Trelly and I told them we plan to chant Trelly Trelly Trelly Oi Oi Oi when he goals. Firstly, the look on Trelly’s face… priceless. He was rapt. He was like “Really???” I’m not 100% sure but I think he was blushing. But even more heartwarming, I snuck a look at Kozzie’s face (he was looking down at the ground but listening) and the unmistakable smile of pride was quite something.

I told them some in the DA wanted to chant Kuzzy Kuzzy Kuzzy etc. but we’ve decided it sounds too similar to Kozzie Kozzie Kozzie. Trelly said “Yeah, I don’t want him (Koz) stealing the glory for my goals” 😅