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The Demons will take to the field in their first hit out for 2024 against another team when they take on the Tigers at Casey Fields in a Scratch Match consisting of 7 "quarters". Melbourne vs Richmond Date: Sunday 18th Feb Location: Casey Fields Gate open: 9.30am Match commences: 10am Watch: Foxtel & Kayo Inclusions: Seven-quarter match simulation Signing opportunities Kids' activities Partner giveaways What are your expectations? What do you want to see from the Demons? Who are you excited to see play?

Disclaimer: Saw on the socials they were down at Gosch’s Paddock so headed down for a quick look. Little to no presence of other track watchers and no current live thread, so as a first time contributor, giving what the people need! It won’t be as expansive and comprehensive as what we’re used to… but it’s something. Conditions: Hot and windy (no explanation needed). Training Format: Tailored match sim; line grouping skills; running.. and lots of it. Observations: Tailored Match Sim: Offense orientated simulation. Focus on transitioning the from defensive wing to forward 50. A team forwards appeared to play on the A backs, with Midfielders having cross representation of personnel. General observations – We still bias to target kicking into the pockets. Attempted to lower the eyes on several occasions to get into the corridor, but the defensive group were strong at intercepting and pushing the rebound. Goal kicking was accurate in windy conditions. Oliver – completed his 2km Time Trial pre-session and was fully integrated with the main group for match-sims (so yes, first session back with the group). Was on a modified running session program separate to the others. Had plenty of the ball in match sims. Was great to see close to the start of the season. Schache - appeared to be the A forwards, along with Fritsch and Van Rooyen. Assume he’s in the starting line up whilst Petty is out. Was a key target on the long kicks into the F50. Pickett – so active and such a livewire in the FWD line. Was the most dominant and damaging player. Billings – genuinely looks to add class synergy in D50 and F50 connection. VanRooyen – not quite as big as May (direct opponent), but is the closest thing we have to a big bustling forward. His development this year will be so important. Tomlinson – looked very settled in the A defense team. Played a lock down defensive role on Schache. Viney and Trac looked very silky in the midfield, as did Sparrow. Other observations on the mids were challenging… I’m bamboozled by the detail you guys can provide on the mids at training. They all look the same to the untrained eye. Line grouping skills: Only observation was that Windsor and Langdon were with the defenders. Perhaps Windsor is the emerging winger for Prac Games if Hunter remains out? Running: Various running drills, split into running groups that have been well documented on previous threads. To my surprise, Kolt was in the second group, albeit on a modified program - clearly has some speed and tank to build on in coming pre-seasons. Started to feel nauseated watching the efforts in the conditions so decided to call it a day there. Anticipated and frequently asked questions: Petty was not partaking in training – stuck to the side with a ball in hand. Salem was on the track and fully training in at least the match sims and line grouping skills. Hunter & Fullarton were on a modified running programs sticking to the boundary line. Fullarton was doing some larger kms so looks to be recovering well. Don’t have a comprehensive list of non-trainers, so would only be guessing - which I want to avoid! That is all I have. Enjoy!

Two other stats that that jump out are disposal efficiency and tackles. JVR averages twice as many tackels as Ugle Hagen, McDonald and Amiss - again not surprising given his competiveness and how ferocious his attack's on the ball and man is. And his disposal efficiency is significantly better than that of Ugle Hagen, McDonald and Amiss - particularly UE, who in his career goes at a woeful 56.3% to JVR's impressive 78.2%. Good kicking is good football.

Player Statistics Comparison Jacob Van Rooyen Name Jamarra Ugle-Hagan Melbourne Demons Team Western Bulldogs Forward Position Forward 20 Career Games 45 Claremont Origin Oakleigh Chargers April 16, 2003 Date of Birth April 4, 2002 20yr 9mth Age 21yr 10mth 193cm Height 197cm 96kg Weight 91kg 2021 National Draft Last Drafted In 2020 National Draft Round 1, Pick #19 Last Draft Position Round 1, Pick #1 Melbourne Demons Last Drafted By Western Bulldogs Career Stats for Season Career 20 Games 45 4.5 Kicks 7.0 4.2 Handballs 2.6 8.7 Disposals 9.6 3.1 Marks 4.3 1.4 Goals 1.3 0.5 Behinds 1.2 2.1 Tackles 1.1 3.7 Hitouts 0.1 1.2 Inside 50s 2.2 0.3 Goal Assists 0.4 0.9 Frees For 0.7 0.8 Frees Against 0.5 4.3 Contested Possessions 4.2 4.8 Uncontested Possessions 5.6 6.8 Effective Disposals 5.4 78.2% Disposal Efficiency % 56.3% 1.6 Clangers 2.3 0.9 Contested Marks 1.1 1.5 Marks Inside 50 2.3 0.3 Clearances 0 0 Rebound 50s 0 2.1 One Percenters 0.9 0 Bounces 0 74.0 Time On Ground % 77.8 0.1 Centre Clearances 0 0.2 Stoppage Clearances 0 4.0 Score Involvements 4.9 113.0 Metres Gained 187.8 1.5 Turnovers 2.6 0.5 Intercepts 0.5 1.1 Tackles Inside 50 0.5

I like that they are training with a congested forward line. The best teams do that to us now because they know they can't go with a standard setup. We need to work out ways to get through this. I think getting the ball in Billings, Salem, Rivers, Bowey and Spargo's hands is the first step!

I choose to read this as ‘Dees back 6 as frugal as ever’

Schache getting a lot of the ball as a key forward. Nibbler, Billings, Woey have hit him up on a lead with some beautiful passing.

Kozzy not doing any midfield work today. Neither is Riv, Bowey or McVee.

Woey’s passing is just sublime.

Sometimes the portion will start with a free kick on the full on the half back or a kick out from a behind.

The start of each portion of the “Match Sim” involves an uneven number at the stoppages either a ball up or throw in. Matchups vary as does the “team” with the uneven number at the stoppage changes.

Some other matchups. Schache on Tomlinson. Lever on Jefferson. Adams on JVR.

Goody very happy with Kolt who was hard up on the boundary in the forward pocket with not a lot of space hitting up Spargo on the chest with a beautiful pass.

Match Sim starting with a boundary throw in on the wing. Max/KFW Trac/Sparrow Langdon/K Brown Laurie/ANB & viney alone.

Max has total aerial supremacy in the middle of the ground. Rarely drops a mark. Playing on KFW.

Verrell now running laps whilst the main group does the proper Match Sim rather than the full ground drill they’ve been doing. Both drills had contact but Verrell doing laps now.

For a “ruckman” he has very clean skills. Doesn’t look awkward at all. Good mark. Haven’t seen too much in game stuff from him so can only go by limited viewing at training.

Although I am a fan of that theory I just got the impression that it was just a bit of warmup/brushing off the footy cobwebs stuff.

Melksham, Petty, B Brown and Hunter doing a circuit of ropes, medicine ball, weights and rower in the sheds.

Brayshaw back out on the field.

Now Salo running laps with Clarry at a very good clip.

Petty working the medicine ball in the sheds.

Jefferson lays a ferocious tackle on Billings who tried to sell him some candy. Most of his team went over to pat him on the back.

Woey and K Brown laying some ferocious tackles on a don’t arguing Viney.

JVR such a natural forward. His team got a turnover and he just instinctively positioned himself on Hore to take a mark.

Petty now in the weights shed on a bike.

Main group split into 4 groups and doing a keepings off no contact handball drill.

Noted. BB in this instance.

Melksham’s on bike in the weights shed.

Hunter doing the same now.

Turner and TMac just chucking the ball to each other hard.

Brown doing 150-200m jogging along the boundary. Looks comfortable. McAdam doing same and does not look comfortable.

Sparrow back training with the main group.

Both in the main group for now. Will keep an eye on them when they do the “match sim” stuff later on because that will be a good indicator of where they are.

Steven May is training with the main group so hopefully he is over the soreness from last week.

TMac just in a training singlet joining the rehabbers. He was doing warmup drills with the main group. Is wearing runners not boots. Hoping it’s a similar situation to Petty not training last week as part of a scheduled de-loading week. He is leaning against the fence so doesn’t appear to be doing rehab.

At the moment he is with the main group doing the post warmup drills. Will keep an eye on him.

McAdam and Melk have joined the rehabbers. They are just doing kick to kick to each other at the moment. Not sure what McAdams ailment is but now doing the same agility exercises with Melk with a trainer. Brown and Hunter doing kick to kick about 35/40m apart.

Clarry back doing drills with McQaulter separate from the main group. Mixture of short passes, handballs or ruck taps from Mini ending with snaps at goal from Clarry.

Salem doing warmups with the main group. Will also keep an eye on him to see if he participates with the group for the whole session.

Turner has joined Hunter and Brown in rehab.

Clarry and Max doing ruck tap/roving drills. A good sight to see.

AMW and Fullarton working on agility drills with a trainer. Hunter doing stretching with Brown on the fence. Now doing basic agility work with another trainer. Worrysome that he is at Browns rehab level of training.

Verrell doing warmup drills with the talls. Will keep an eye to see if he’s in the main group for the rest of training.

REHAB: Brown, Hunter, AMW, Fullarton, Turner, Clarry, TMac, Melksham, McAdam

Clarry doing drills with McQualter. He was leading toward Mini zig zagging before running straight at him to mark the ball on the lead.

Petty is present with footy boots on.

Clarry is in the building (Gosch’s Paddock)

All players in Blue guernseys today

I’m crossing the Yarra as we speak. I’ll provide my observations on individual performances. Shout out if there is anyone in particular you want me to comment on.