With just over two weeks until their opening match of the 2026 AFL Premiership season, the Demons are already well on the path to redemption and have the Saints firmly in their sights ahead of their mid-March clash at the MCG.

What do you think the team will look like when they run out on to the G?

4 minutes ago, Demonland said:

With just over two weeks until their opening match of the 2026 AFL Premiership season, the Demons are already well on the path to redemption and have the Saints firmly in their sights ahead of their mid-March clash at the MCG.

What do you think the team will look like when they run out on to the G?

Backs  Lindsay TMac Lever

Half backs Salem Turner Howes

Centre Langford Rivers Langdon

Half forward Sparrow JVR Chandler

Forward Fritsch Mihocek L Pickett

Rucks Gawn Steele K Pickett

IC Windsor Heath Jiath Culley Laurie

Emergencies Petty Tholstrup Taylor

Calling @WERRIDEE .

I'm a little concerned about our preparation in terms of practice hitouts going into the season. We've played two very poor opposition teams and our match sims/intraclubs have been compromised with injured players missing and VFL standard fill ins. Our round 1 opponent have 2 games in between now and Round 1.

Saints fans are up and about. I reckon they will get a decent crowd especially if they towel up the Pies the week before.

39 minutes ago, Demonland said:

What do you think the team will look like when they run out on to the G?

A bunch of blokes in red and blue, some tall some short (sorry).

8 minutes ago, Fritta and Turner said:

A bunch of blokes in red and blue, some tall some short (sorry).

Now I know who to support.

Dees look slick. Hopefully we can reset the Saints expectations and turnaround a massive 3/4 time deficit to win with a Windsor kick after the siren

It's our most winnable game on paper out of the first five games IIRC

Tough start for the Dees. Saints are definitely an improved group on 2025.

17 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

It's our most winnable game on paper out of the first five games IIRC

We play Carlton in round 3 and Essendon in round 5.

Think we would be much better playing JVR as second ruck than Heath. The new rules are anti-second ruckman (and we shouldnt play a second ruck with Gawn anyway).

Think Steel, Langford, Fritsch and Culley (if he plays) give us another forward marking threat. I also want to see Melksham in the side when he is AFL match fit. The side looks ok on paper but we could do with more pace. Bowey is a loss.

3 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

It's our most winnable game on paper out of the first five games IIRC

Yeah maybe, but I would’ve thought Essendon in Adelaide looks more winnable on paper than St Kilda, despite our recent Gather Round woes.

St Kilda and Carlton are probably on par with each other in terms of difficulty. GC and Freo are clearly our two toughest.

FB: Howes Petty Lever

HB: Lindsay Turner Salem

C: Langdon Steele Langford

HF: Chandler Mihocek K. Pickett

FF: L. Pickett JVR Fritsch

Foll: Gawn Rivers Windsor

Int: CJ, Sparrow, ????, ????, ????

From: Culley, Laurie, Sharp, Kolt, Melksham, ?Matthews

Still not sure what the right mix of the bench players will be.

Would like to see Culley play a half in a Casey scratch match next week.

Logic says pick our fittest and hardest runners so go 2 of Kolt, Laurie and Sharp. But they aren’t inspiring choices.

If we can hold Wanganeen-Milera to sub 30 touches and sub 3 goals we might be a punchers chance in this one.

We'll beat them

6 hours ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

Backs  Lindsay TMac Lever

Half backs Salem Turner Howes

Centre Langford Rivers Langdon

Half forward Sparrow JVR Chandler

Forward Fritsch Mihocek L Pickett

Rucks Gawn Steele K Pickett

IC Windsor Heath Jiath Culley Laurie

Emergencies Petty Tholstrup Taylor

Gosh, u guys have got it in for Kolt. Surely he plays. Culley unlikely on this prep

@WERRIDEE

No idea if he will be right but I would love to see Culley. I have an inkling he will be a difference maker.

Right age to take a big step. Same with Turner. Rivers in the midfield the same.

That’s the issue - our best players are predominantly under 21, or - aside from Kozzie - near the end.

I’ve answered the call.

With Heath being poor in the VFL I’ve picked McDonald as the second ruckman.

B: Lever, Petty, Salem

HB: Jiath, Turner, Lindsay

C: Langford, Steele, Langdon

HF: Chandler, van Rooyen, K.Pickett

F: Fritsch, Miocek, L.Pickett

FOLL: Gawn, Rivers, Windsor

IC: Sparrow, Howes, Tholstrup, Laurie, McDonald

EMERG: Culley, Heath, Melksham

59 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

I’ve answered the call.

With Heath being poor in the VFL I’ve picked McDonald as the second ruckman.

B: Lever, Petty, Salem

HB: Jiath, Turner, Lindsay

1 hour ago, WERRIDEE said:

I’ve answered the call.

With Heath being poor in the VFL I’ve picked McDonald as the second ruckman.

B: Lever, Petty, Salem

HB: Jiath, Turner, Lindsay

C: Langford, Steele, Langdon

HF: Chandler, van Rooyen, K.Pickett

F: Fritsch, Miocek, L.Pickett

FOLL: Gawn, Rivers, Windsor

IC: Sparrow, Howes, Tholstrup, Laurie, McDonald

EMERG: Culley, Heath, Melksham

Thanks for answering the call @WERRIDEE .

I reckon your selections are solid at this early stage, but I’m interested in your views as to how we might limit the influence of potential match winner NWM.

Serious question, because I have no idea!

SAINTS like the HAWKS, FREO & BULLDOGS have only one player who are likely to not be available for Round 1. How did they achieve that? Dees looking at 6 or 7 players at least as being unavailable.

4 minutes ago, Deeoldfart said:

Thanks for answering the call @WERRIDEE .

I reckon your selections are solid at this early stage, but I’m interested in your views as to how we might limit the influence of potential match winner NWM.

Serious question, because I have no idea!

Get AJ to run through him.

Only 15 days til round 1 after a looooong preseason and so many changes

Bring it on!! Once I see the new game plan and the kids playing well I will be happy

2 hours ago, Farmer said:

Gosh, u guys have got it in for Kolt. Surely he plays. Culley unlikely on this prep

I don't. Aside from 2 goals he has been disappointing both weeks. Culley they will want in the side asap and he has been able to run and participate in drills without contact. Toss up between Laurie and Kolt for last spot and if Culley not there Kolt plays.