As our (home) preseason game, we should be playing in Gippsland, showcasing our Gippy boys. Having 4 regional games in one town is bizarre. AFL are dumb as dog****!

8 hours ago, Go Ds said:

Last season's 14th vs 16th with nothing on the line. Maybe there are better venues and times but the AFL probably just wants to get these things out of the way. Will yhe hundreds of spectators even be charged?

I got an email saying AFL members and club members get free entry, assuming that means everyone else pays.

22 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

That’d be outrageous! Imagine how many kids who live in Melbourne would be able to attend were it on a non-school day?! We can’t have that!

Seriously, 4:10pm on a Friday sucks and apart from locals and retirees and nuffie DA members who luvs them a V/Line trek there won’t be many there.

4 of us will def be there ..accom already booked but agree that a Sat or Sunday would have been so much better. Apparently we’re a very popular choice for Sunday games in season proper but score a Friday in the pre season , Go figure ..

A second practice match has been announced.

The Demons will take on North Melbourne at Casey Fields on Friday 20th February 2026 @ 4:30pm.

This game is in addition to our match against the Tigers in Ballarat on Friday 27th February 2026 @ 4:10pm

UNOFFICIAL MATCH SIMULATIONS (all times AEDT)

Monday, February 16

Hawthorn v Geelong Cats, Kennedy Community Centre at 3.15pm (4 x 30-minute quarters, no time on)

Wednesday, February 18

Brisbane v Carlton, Brighton Homes Arena at 6.00pm (4 x 30-minute quarters, no time on, extended bench)

Thursday, February 19

Western Bulldogs v Sydney, Mission Whitten Oval at 2.00pm (4 x 30-minute quarters, no time-on)

Gold Coast v St Kilda, People First Stadium at 7.45pm (4 x 20-minute quarters, plus time on)

Friday February 20

Essendon v Richmond, NEC Hangar at 10.30am (4 x 30-minute quarters, no time-on)

Collingwood v GWS Giants, La Trobe University Sports Park (Bundoora) at 11am (4 x 25-minute quarters, no time-on)

Melbourne v North Melbourne, Casey Fields at 4.30pm (4 x 25-minute quarters, no time-on + 2-minute scenarios at the end of both Q3 and Q4)

Port Adelaide v Adelaide, Alberton Oval, 6.00pm (4 x 20-minute quarters, plus time on)*

Saturday February 21

Fremantle v West Coast Eagles, Victor George Kailis Oval at 12.00pm (4 x 25-minute quarters, no time-on)

FULL 2026 COMMUNITY SERIES FIXTURE (all times AEDT)

Wednesday, February 25

Carlton v Geelong, Ikon Park, 7.10pm

Thursday, February 26

Sydney v GWS, Henson Park, 4.10pm

Brisbane v Gold Coast, Brighton Homes Arena, 7.10pm

Friday, February 27

Melbourne v Richmond, Mars Stadium, 4.10pm

Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn, Mission Whitten Oval, 7.10pm

Saturday, February 28

St Kilda v Essendon, Mars Stadium, 3.10pm

Fremantle v Adelaide, Rushton Park, 6.10pm

Sunday, March 1

North Melbourne v Collingwood, Mars Stadium, 3.10pm

West Coast v Port Adelaide, Mineral Resources Park, 6.10pm

On 09/12/2025 at 11:30, Demonland said:

Done.

Not sure about the sleeves, but otherwise that is a million times better than any of the club generated options.

On 09/12/2025 at 11:09, Demonland said:

To be fair, the target market live audience for these rural community games is the people who actually live in those towns. Live attendance isn’t aimed at fans from Melbourne or the surrounding suburbs. The AFL is perfectly content for us to watch from home and keep paying our Kayo or Foxtel subscriptions.

So the locals don't have jobs?

MELBOURNE’S pre-season preparations will step up a gear on Friday 20 February, with the Dees set to take on North Melbourne in a match simulation at Casey Fields.

The hit-out will be Melbourne’s first match simulation against external opposition this pre-season, offering a valuable opportunity for players to build match fitness as preparations continue for the 2026 AFL season.

The match simulation will begin at 4.30pm and will be played under modified conditions, with no limit on players or rotations. The contest will consist of four 25-minute quarters, with the clock stopping after goals only.

Quarter breaks will be set at six minutes for the first and third intervals, with a 15-minute main break, while a two-minute scenario will be played at the end of the second and fourth quarters using full match timing.

Earlier in the day, Casey Demons will also be in action at Casey Fields, featuring in a match simulation starting at 2.30pm.

The VFL hit-out will consist of three 25-minute quarters, with six-minute breaks between each period.

Fans attending Casey Fields can also enjoy a range of partner activations, activities and food trucks throughout the day, including face painting, Demon Shop and membership activations, SEDA inflatables, the Demon Army sausage sizzle, and a carnival ride, making it a great day out for the whole family.

For those unable to attend, every match simulation will be broadcast exclusively live on Fox Footy, available via Kayo Sports and Foxtel.

For those going, don't expect to see Kozzie or Max in action.

1 minute ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

For those going, don't expect to see Kozzie or Max in action.

Why?

2 minutes ago, binman said:

Why?

Believe club has said the players featuring in state of origin will be rested for one match sim to keep loads equal

49 minutes ago, binman said:

Why?

I recall Max mentioning that he'll be playing State of Origin and then give Practice Match #1 a miss.