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The Demons' new-look midfield has been hit hard with Jack Viney (Achilles) set to miss most of the first half of the season and Jai Culley (arm) out for a month after a promising summer. Max Gawn has been nursing a finger fracture but played in AAMI AFL Origin on Saturday, while Jake Bowey will miss several months as he recovers from a Lisfranc fracture in his foot. Harry Sharp (hamstring) and draftee Tom Matthews (groin) returned to match sim training last week, while Shane McAdam (Achilles), Jack Henderson (back/sacrum), Tom Campbell (neck) and Andy Moniz-Wakefield (knee) are all in various stages of recovery. Christian Salem has been restricted to running laps in recent sessions but the club reportedly said in late January there were no concerns with his fitness. Father-son tall Kalani White has returned to Queensland to spend time with family as he recovers from a bout of glandular fever. - Michael Rogers

56 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Our first opponent has only Max King out.

They play a game before us, could lose 12 to make it even

Most of the names on our injury list aren’t best 23. Bowey is the one that stings. If it was Windsor, Langford, Lindsay or any of the other young guys I’d be disappointed but all those names have had full summers and the year will be mostly about them.

At least we’re not GWS, they’ve lost Sam Taylor, Tom Green, Toby Bedford and now Finn Callaghan in one week 😂😬

18 minutes ago, Greg Schneider said:

Most of the names on our injury list aren’t best 23. Bowey is the one that stings. If it was Windsor, Langford, Lindsay or any of the other young guys I’d be disappointed but all those names have had full summers and the year will be mostly about them.

At least we’re not GWS, they’ve lost Sam Taylor, Tom Green, Toby Bedford and now Finn Callaghan in one week 😂😬

Finn Callaghan? Haven’t seen anything about that

3 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Finn Callaghan? Haven’t seen anything about that

Been confirmed this morning by Jason McCartney on SEN that he has a picked up an injury.

2 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Been confirmed this morning by Jason McCartney on SEN that he has a picked up an injury.

There goes that SuperCoach pick 😢

Poor GWS though - I have to say I’ve enjoyed watching them the past few years especially, and Callaghan in particular is one of my fave non Dees

4 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Been confirmed this morning by Jason McCartney on SEN that he has a picked up an injury.

Wowee. They will struggle without Callaghan and Green. Clarry suddenly their great white hope

1 hour ago, Greg Schneider said:

Most of the names on our injury list aren’t best 23. Bowey is the one that stings. If it was Windsor, Langford, Lindsay or any of the other young guys I’d be disappointed but all those names have had full summers and the year will be mostly about them.

At least we’re not GWS, they’ve lost Sam Taylor, Tom Green, Toby Bedford and now Finn Callaghan in one week 😂😬

While I agree that our best players are young - historically, that is not a sign of a good up coming season.

Secondly, without Viney that is our entire midfield from last year gone.

How will we compete?

We shall see…

1 hour ago, rpfc said:

While I agree that our best players are young - historically, that is not a sign of a good up coming season.

Secondly, without Viney that is our entire midfield from last year gone.

How will we compete?

We shall see…

Our entire midfield from last year was pretty bad apart from the odd outlier, I still have nightmares about them being touched up by a poor Essendon outfit and an injury ravaged Carlton who were Cripps + their VFL side

4 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

AFL WEBSITE

The Demons' new-look midfield has been hit hard with Jack Viney (Achilles) set to miss most of the first half of the season and Jai Culley (arm) out for a month after a promising summer. Max Gawn has been nursing a finger fracture but played in AAMI AFL Origin on Saturday, while Jake Bowey will miss several months as he recovers from a Lisfranc fracture in his foot. Harry Sharp (hamstring) and draftee Tom Matthews (groin) returned to match sim training last week, while Shane McAdam (Achilles), Jack Henderson (back/sacrum), Tom Campbell (neck) and Andy Moniz-Wakefield (knee) are all in various stages of recovery. Christian Salem has been restricted to running laps in recent sessions but the club reportedly said in late January there were no concerns with his fitness. Father-son tall Kalani White has returned to Queensland to spend time with family as he recovers from a bout of glandular fever. - Michael Rogers

It sounds like Viney, Culley, Bowey and Salem are the most likely players doubtful for round 1 who would be selected. And May is very, very doubtful and Petty is unlikely. I can see issues implementing a new game style with so many personel issues.

48 minutes ago, sisso said:

Our entire midfield from last year was pretty bad apart from the odd outlier, I still have nightmares about them being touched up by a poor Essendon outfit and an injury ravaged Carlton who were Cripps + their VFL side

I don’t disagree. But remember; when things are bad, they can always get worse.

50 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

It sounds like Viney, Culley, Bowey and Salem are the most likely players doubtful for round 1 who would be selected. And May is very, very doubtful and Petty is unlikely. I can see issues implementing a new game style with so many personel issues.

Tbf, I don’t think there’s issues with gameplay changes with them out.

It doesn’t change what the fill in players are told to do or the others playing.

Would be nice to not have so many out though.

1 hour ago, rpfc said:

I don’t disagree. But remember; when things are bad, they can always get worse.

True but at least if we're young and bad there's a chance we can get better

Mcadam is back into drills looking at the club’s instagram, surprising as when I saw him a couple weeks ago he could barely run

I'm surprised the club hasn't said anything official about Salem.

Given he's been in the rehab group for a month now, I think we're entitled to an official update.

15 minutes ago, Greg Schneider said:

Mcadam is back into drills looking at the club’s instagram, surprising as when I saw him a couple weeks ago he could barely run

Yeah there was a report (may have been on Fox Sports) last week that mentioned that he was running really well.

He might not be far away...although famous last words with this particular player.

4 minutes ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Tbf, I don’t think there’s issues with gameplay changes with them out.

It doesn’t change what the fill in players are told to do or the others playing.

Would be nice to not have so many out though.

I think the new game plan requires more skill and Bowey and Salem are losses, especially early on.

Culley also a loss because of Viney being out. Looking at our list, Culley, Steele and Langford (and Sparrow) give us a few players who can drift forward and take a mark and kick a goal in a slow play. I can see us using a lot of pulled 40m kicks into a stacked forward line to these players who have a marking advantage. The main issue with our midfield is it is too slow (apart from Kossie and Windsor).

And we have Kossie who can cheat forward on a fast play.

Edited February 16Feb 16 by Fat Tony

On 06/02/2026 at 13:16, GawnOfTheDead said:

Can they not do a surgery to get Viney going? Or is it too late?

For whatever reason Vineys season is over. He has done next to no preseason and still has the injury so bad he struggles to do more than walk. Sadly this season is over for Viney. Put him on the long term injury list.

Edited February 16Feb 16 by old dee

6 minutes ago, old dee said:

For whatever reason Vineys season is over. He has done next to no preseason and still has the injury so bad he struggles to do more than walk. Sadly this season is over for Viney. Put him on the long term injury list.

Huge loss.

If we get Butters though next year, that’d be awesome. Imagine both of those hot heads in the middle.

37 minutes ago, Greg Schneider said:

At least we’re not GWS, they’ve lost Sam Taylor, Tom Green, Toby Bedford and now Finn Callaghan in one week 😂😬

Pity we aren’t playing them in our first game .

18 hours ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Huge loss.

If we get Butters though next year, that’d be awesome. Imagine both of those hot heads in the middle.

Won’t happen.

20 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Pity we aren’t playing them in our first game .

Won’t happen.

Agreed. Can dream though.

Gawn Hammy concern? https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/02/15/afl-2026-afl-state-of-origin-max-gawn-injury-melbourne-victoria-versus-wa

Based on the team selection for today’s Match Sim vs North Melbourne, it would appear that only two MFC listed players - Oscar Berry and Riley Onley - were available and not selected. The rest are mostly injured or managed as follows:

Jake Bowey (foot)

Tom Campbell (neck)

Jai Culley (arm)

Max Gawn (managed)

Jack Henderson (back/sacrum)

Aidan Johnson (hamstring)

Shane McAdam (Achilles)

Tom Matthews (knee)

Steven May (personal leave)

Jake Melksham (managed)

Andy Moniz-Wakefield (knee)

Harry Petty (concussion protocol)

Jack Viney (Achilles)

Kalani White (glandular fever)

27 minutes ago, Chelly said:

Based on the team selection for today’s Match Sim vs North Melbourne, it would appear that only two MFC listed players - Oscar Berry and Riley Onley - were available and not selected. The rest are mostly injured or managed as follows:

Jake Bowey (foot)

Tom Campbell (neck)

Jai Culley (arm)

Max Gawn (managed)

Jack Henderson (back/sacrum)

Aidan Johnson (hamstring)

Shane McAdam (Achilles)

Tom Matthews (knee)

Steven May (personal leave)

Jake Melksham (managed)

Andy Moniz-Wakefield (knee)

Harry Petty (concussion protocol)

Jack Viney (Achilles)

Kalani White (glandular fever)

Who’s Ben Matthews? Thomas maybe? Unless I missed a pick..

Edited February 20Feb 20 by Whispering_Jack
Corrected name of Tom Matthews