MELBOURNE’S Matt Jefferson is a fly-under-the-radar type of Demon.  

A quiet character around the club, he’s someone who puts in the hard work without much fuss.  

Since arriving at the Dees in 2022, he’s been slowly building year on year, with his reserved but determined routine now key to his development. 

“I’ve learned a lot, now I know what I need to do to be able to get the best out of myself, I feel like the first couple of years I struggled a bit with that,” Jefferson said.

 “Every day I come in and know the level of training, gym, vision, recovery I need.

 “With this type of routine and focus, I know that if I don’t get selected [for AFL] that I’m prepared to play that standard no matter what, because of the work I’ve put in during the week.” 

Jefferson played back-to-back seasons in the VFL after first arriving at the club, kicking a total of 51 goals across 37 games.

 He was named Best VFL Player in 2024 and earned himself an AFL debut in Round 1 of 2025.

 “It was pretty cool to have my debut in Round 1 and get that AFL experience,” Jefferson said.

 “I felt like I was ready for the step up, ready for that challenge having played some good VFL footy in 2024.   

“I think overall, it was a good year because I learned a lot.   

After debuting in Round 1, he was omitted on three separate occasions throughout the year, playing the majority of his footy in the VFL. 

 This week-to-week pressure was something Jefferson was forced to get comfortable with in the last 12 months.

 “It can be challenging when you’re in and out of the team, because you feel like you’re playing really good VFL footy but then you get to AFL and you’re not playing as well as you’d hoped,” Jefferson said.

 “But I think knowing that I’ve put in the work during the week, that really helped me last year when I went back to the VFL.

 “I didn’t drop my head, I tried to see each VFL game I played as an opportunity to not only get back into the team but improve my game.” 

From week-to-week pressure to in-game pressure, forwards are met with plenty of match moments that call upon their ability to stay focused.

 Jefferson admitted that this type of focus during games was another challenge that he faced.  

“When I first got here, that’s something that I really struggled with, being able to stay focused in games,” Jefferson said.  

“As a forward, you do have games where the ball just doesn't go near you.  

“I have become a lot better at that. In my first or second year, if I was playing and I hadn’t had a good first half, my second half would be just as bad.

 “Now I feel like I can pull myself out of that mindset.” 

As a Melbourne forward, Jefferson is part of a reasonably young playing group that is hoping to impress in 2026 under a fresh coaching mix.  

In addition to the appointment of new senior coach Steven King, the Dees also added Matthew Scarlett, AFL great and 284-gamer for Geelong, to the coaching cohort.

 Scarlett joined the Dees as a development coach specialising in talls, which has meant working closely with Jefferson this pre-season.

 “He has a bit of an aura about him, he’s an AFL great,” Jefferson said.

“[Brody Mihocek] coming in has also been really good for us young forwards, I think he’s similar to me in that he’s not necessarily the biggest key forward but he’s just really smart so he’s been able to help me and the other forwards make sure we play to our strengths.

 “[Jacob van Rooyen] has also been really helpful, I know he’s a similar age to me but he’s built up his leadership over the last few years and has been really good at helping me bring my focus back in games.”

Jefferson finished 2025 with seven senior games under his belt and if this pre-season is any preview of 2026, he’s looking to come back with a bang this season.

 “In my off-season, I really wanted to focus on my quality of training,” Jefferson said.

 “I got injured at the end of the season which meant I didn’t really stop training [because of rehab], so my mindset changed.  

“I looked at the off-season as an opportunity to build my fitness. I wanted to come back for pre-season and be fit that day, I didn’t want to chase that fitness.  

“When you've got a good group of young players, you’re all learning together, you’re all on a similar path, building to where you need to be and we’re all building towards the same goal.” 

I know he had very little influence in his senior games last year, but you can tell there's a little something there.

For example in the GWS and Carlton games he was able to step up to the plate and nail his set shots in the last quarter of those close games, which shows he can rise to the occasion. We didn't win the games, but he put us in a position to win them.

He's out of contract this year so he'll need to be having something close to a 15 game/25 goal season IMO to be absolutely assured of another contract.

Reckon Jeffo can form a good 1-2 punch combo with JVR. I feel like they compliment each other in a good way. Have seen jeffo hit up JVR with a sharp kick from 50 a few times in the VFL, he offers a bit more craft and skill than the usual tall forward. Hopefully the get a good run of games together and build a bit of synergy together. Sounds like both have come back in really good nick and ready for a big year.

Nothing I want more than to see Jeffo rise. I haven’t seen anything yet that would suggest it yet mind you…but fingers crossed. He needs to show something this year, good luck to the kid.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

MELBOURNE’S Matt Jefferson is a fly-under-the-radar type of Demon.  

A quiet character around the club, he’s someone who puts in the hard work without much fuss.  

Since arriving at the Dees in 2022, he’s been slowly building year on year, with his reserved but determined routine now key to his development. 

“I’ve learned a lot, now I know what I need to do to be able to get the best out of myself, I feel like the first couple of years I struggled a bit with that,” Jefferson said.

 “Every day I come in and know the level of training, gym, vision, recovery I need.

 “With this type of routine and focus, I know that if I don’t get selected [for AFL] that I’m prepared to play that standard no matter what, because of the work I’ve put in during the week.” 

Jefferson played back-to-back seasons in the VFL after first arriving at the club, kicking a total of 51 goals across 37 games.

 He was named Best VFL Player in 2024 and earned himself an AFL debut in Round 1 of 2025.

 “It was pretty cool to have my debut in Round 1 and get that AFL experience,” Jefferson said.

 “I felt like I was ready for the step up, ready for that challenge having played some good VFL footy in 2024.   

“I think overall, it was a good year because I learned a lot.   

After debuting in Round 1, he was omitted on three separate occasions throughout the year, playing the majority of his footy in the VFL. 

 This week-to-week pressure was something Jefferson was forced to get comfortable with in the last 12 months.

 “It can be challenging when you’re in and out of the team, because you feel like you’re playing really good VFL footy but then you get to AFL and you’re not playing as well as you’d hoped,” Jefferson said.

 “But I think knowing that I’ve put in the work during the week, that really helped me last year when I went back to the VFL.

 “I didn’t drop my head, I tried to see each VFL game I played as an opportunity to not only get back into the team but improve my game.” 

From week-to-week pressure to in-game pressure, forwards are met with plenty of match moments that call upon their ability to stay focused.

 Jefferson admitted that this type of focus during games was another challenge that he faced.  

“When I first got here, that’s something that I really struggled with, being able to stay focused in games,” Jefferson said.  

“As a forward, you do have games where the ball just doesn't go near you.  

“I have become a lot better at that. In my first or second year, if I was playing and I hadn’t had a good first half, my second half would be just as bad.

 “Now I feel like I can pull myself out of that mindset.” 

As a Melbourne forward, Jefferson is part of a reasonably young playing group that is hoping to impress in 2026 under a fresh coaching mix.  

In addition to the appointment of new senior coach Steven King, the Dees also added Matthew Scarlett, AFL great and 284-gamer for Geelong, to the coaching cohort.

 Scarlett joined the Dees as a development coach specialising in talls, which has meant working closely with Jefferson this pre-season.

 “He has a bit of an aura about him, he’s an AFL great,” Jefferson said.

“[Brody Mihocek] coming in has also been really good for us young forwards, I think he’s similar to me in that he’s not necessarily the biggest key forward but he’s just really smart so he’s been able to help me and the other forwards make sure we play to our strengths.

 “[Jacob van Rooyen] has also been really helpful, I know he’s a similar age to me but he’s built up his leadership over the last few years and has been really good at helping me bring my focus back in games.”

Jefferson finished 2025 with seven senior games under his belt and if this pre-season is any preview of 2026, he’s looking to come back with a bang this season.

 “In my off-season, I really wanted to focus on my quality of training,” Jefferson said.

 “I got injured at the end of the season which meant I didn’t really stop training [because of rehab], so my mindset changed.  

“I looked at the off-season as an opportunity to build my fitness. I wanted to come back for pre-season and be fit that day, I didn’t want to chase that fitness.  

“When you've got a good group of young players, you’re all learning together, you’re all on a similar path, building to where you need to be and we’re all building towards the same goal.” 

Did Picket write this?

Sadly Jeffo is more of a ‘still in the hangar’ than a ‘flying under the radar’ type.

Hope he soars. I have seen some things to have some hope.

Feeling i got from reading that article is that the penny has finally dropped with him and he now has a better understanding of what it takes from a professional sense.

We get this with so many young kids that come through the syste.. They struggle early initially with the demands and professionalism of being an elite athlete.

With time comes maturity and then a realisation that it is up to the individual to grab it with both hands.

My tip for a break out year.

A good chance to kick our third most goals this year after Fritsch & Pickett

I really want him to succeed. But I think he lacks the mongrel required, seems a bit too nice. Prove me wrong, prove.me.wrong.

4 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I really want him to succeed. But I think he lacks the mongrel required, seems a bit too nice. Prove me wrong, prove.me.wrong.

I would argue if you have skill and determination, you don't necessarily need mongrel.

In support, I present Exhibit A - Robbie Flower, Exhibit B, your honour - Jim Stynes.

(And yes, if I were either of them, I'd still fancy having a Rod Grinter or Byron Pickett in my team.)

You could [censored] on a Jeffo deniers leg and tell them it's raining

He’s shown enough to persevere with and TBH tough gig especially with our fwd entries,

Doesn’t have to be a breakout year just continued improvement, consistency and heading in the right direction

Edited February 19Feb 19 by Pennant St Dee

8 minutes ago, Olgreybeard49 said:

I would argue if you have skill and determination, you don't necessarily need mongrel.

In support, I present Exhibit A - Robbie Flower, Exhibit B, your honour - Jim Stynes.

(And yes, if I were either of them, I'd still fancy having a Rod Grinter or Byron Pickett in my team.)

I think the term mongrel really means "total desperation at the contest" or a refusal to be beaten & not taking a backwards step. You don't have to be thug to have this.

Michael Newton lacked this, Jack Watts lacked this (but made up for it with sublime skill).

Aaron Vandenberg had it in spades.

Jefferson is borderline & needs to be ruthless in his attack on thr ball if he's going to make it.

would love him to make it

he has a way to go to get a game and show the competitiveness

After that his goal kicking will come into focus

1 hour ago, Neil Crompton said:

Did Picket write this?

Nar, it wasn't complimentary enough in my opinion😇

I like the way Demonland's title for this thread optimistically converts a question "...is [Jeffo] ready to soar in 2026?" into a bold statement ("Jeffo Ready to Soar in 2026")

Jeff has a bit of a hang dog look.

He needs to get a bit of a strut going.

8 minutes ago, bluey said:

Jeff has a bit of a hang dog look.

He needs to get a bit of a strut going.

10 minutes ago, bluey said:

Jeff has a bit of a hang dog look.

He needs to get a bit of a strut going.

One’s inherent gait doesn’t change.

Wayne Carey was once asked if he earned the nickname "Duck" because of his unusual gait.

He reputedly replied "Nah, it's because of the funny way I walk".

3 hours ago, TRIGON said:

tbh i just don't see it

makes weed look like a worldbeater

hope i'm wrong

4 hours ago, bluey said:

Jeff has a bit of a hang dog look.

He needs to get a bit of a strut going.

Still think Jeffo needs to get more aggressive at the footy and with his 2nd efforts. I think another preseason has helped build his frame. Unfortunately think he might end up like Sam Weideman. Very good junior. But transition to senior footy is tough.

He’s a good mark. Okay kick. Tackling and pressure very low. 2nd efforts occasional only. Aggressive nature low. Plays more like a 3rd tall than a key forward. It’s another hope and fingers crossed year ahead.

35 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Still think Jeffo needs to get more aggressive at the footy and with his 2nd efforts. I think another preseason has helped build his frame. Unfortunately think he might end up like Sam Weideman. Very good junior. But transition to senior footy is tough.

He’s a good mark. Okay kick. Tackling and pressure very low. 2nd efforts occasional only. Aggressive nature low. Plays more like a 3rd tall than a key forward. It’s another hope and fingers crossed year ahead.

I think he will be more versatile than Sam was, reckon he'll be our regular full forward if not this season then in 27 and beyond. Fritta will play high half or forwardpocket. He has the advantage over most because he has forward craft and just needs more continuity.

39 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Still think Jeffo needs to get more aggressive at the footy and with his 2nd efforts. I think another preseason has helped build his frame. Unfortunately think he might end up like Sam Weideman. Very good junior. But transition to senior footy is tough.

He’s a good mark. Okay kick. Tackling and pressure very low. 2nd efforts occasional only. Aggressive nature low. Plays more like a 3rd tall than a key forward. It’s another hope and fingers crossed year ahead.