Demonland

MELBOURNE Result: 80-point win over North Melbourne (129-49) What we learned: Dees fans would be going into 2026 with more optimism after a dominant 80-point win over North Melbourne in Casey in a game the Pickett cousins put on a show. Melbourne unofficially kicked off the Steven King era on a high note and a preview into some exciting footy to come this season. The Dees played a more daring brand where they looked to move the ball quickly at just about every opportunity and embraced a more chaotic style. It saw Kysaiah Pickett thrive in a five-goal masterclass as the best player on the ground, splitting his time between midfield and forward. “That run and gun through the middle with Pickett – he’s just so quick with ball in hand. And not only is he quick, but he can execute a kick on the run like that. It’s such a great asset for them to use him through that middle of the ground,” Carlton AFLW player Harriet Cordner praised on Kayo Sports commentary. His cousin, Latrelle Pickett, also had some dazzling moments that would’ve got Demons fans seriously excited. More of that from the Pickett cousins in 2026, please! Elsewhere, Jack Steele delivered a strong performance in the midfield in his first showing for Melbourne, while Brody Mihocek kicked the first two goals for Melbourne before his day ended prematurely due to concussion and 2024 mid-season recruit Luker Kentfield kicked three wearing a ‘Batman’ mask.

Of course not. We're 2nd on the Preseason Ladder.

TEST

I wouldn't look to the legacy media for any validation of our footy team/club. Even when we were good for 5 minutes they were sharpening knives.

MELBOURNE SCOUTING NOTESCALEB WINDSOR The summer standout started in the middle and won the first clearance but wasn’t as impactful as some of his midfield teammates. Only played midfield as he transitions to become a full-time onballer. JACOB VAN ROOYEN Presented often but didn’t trouble the scorers until late in the final term and wasn’t needed for the Dees to rack up a big score. BRODY MIHOCEK Kicked two opportunistic goals in the first term before being ruled out of the rest of the game with concussion. MATTHEW JEFFERSON Quiet day for the young forward and was outshone by Kentfield. HARVEY LANGFORD Plenty of inside midfield minutes for the onballer, who showed no signs he will slow down after a very impressive debut season. Bagged a monster goal in the final term. MAX HEATH The ex-Saint looks a winner of the new era of jumping rucks as he took it up to Tristan Xerri at ball ups, including a glorious tap to Kysaiah Pickett for a goal. With Tom Campbell injured, Heath is clearly the No.2 ruck. Courageous effort in the first part of scenario play secured the win. LATRELLE PICKETT There is not much to him physically he is just full of talent. Knew how to get involved in link play and create some space, and will play for the Dees early. Already Dees fans get up whenever Pickett wins the ball and can run into space. XAVIER LINDSAY Had a heap of ball coming off half-back and could be one player to benefit by the loss of Judd McVee and Jake Bowey. XAVIER TAYLOR Only came on in the final term and had a couple of moments. Dees didn’t appear to miss him in defence so his chances of a round 1 debut may have taken a step back. CHANGKUOTH JIATH Turned into Nedd Brockman as he ripped through a long running session when pulled out of the match at half-time, even doing laps while the game was being played. Took one excellent intercept grab and tried to add run out of defence. KYSAIAH PICKETT With ball in hand he was as vicious as a drunk bride at a MAFS dinner party. A genuine class above as he sent a serious warning to the league with five goals. LUKER KENTFIELD Wearing a Phantom of the Opera mask to protect a facial injury, came from the shadows to put a hand up for an AFL debut. The big man showed some good glimpses, kicking three goals and jumping hard in the ruck. JACK STEELE Has all the markings of being the shrewdest pickup of the trade period. Steele did all the basics right, directed the midfield at stoppages and looked the part in his new colours. Kicked two final term goals. KOLTYN THOLSTRUP Playing a new role at half-back this year and performed well, added some rebound will doing enough defensively. Floated forward for a nice goal. TOM MCDONALD Absolutely rock solid at full-back and worked well in tandem with Jake Lever. DANIEL TURNER Keep buying stocks in the defender. Positioning was superb and he is on track to take another leap towards the better defenders in the game. BLAKE HOWES A forgotten man outside of Melbourne’s fan base, played an integral role as a hybrid tall defender in a structure where the Dees were clearly desperate to create a loose man.

Ed Langdon tossed the coin and lost.

And the leader after Match Sim vs North Melbourne is Kozzy:

It’s late February. Two teams widely predicted to finish near the foot of the AFL table in 2026 face off against each other in sweltering 30-degree heat deep in outer suburbia in a match simulation with fresh new faces and uneven team numbers. There are no nearby sheep stations on offer; the result promises nothing more than bragging rights for the winner. Nevertheless, the loser appears hopelessly adrift, whereas the other seems to have found its footing after a couple of years of struggle – perhaps a hint at bigger things to come? Actually, it’s more than just a hint. What we saw in Melbourne’s emphatic 86-point win (including Harry Sharp’s goal in the final two minute simulation) over North Melbourne was fast movement, pace and more pace, a mixture of old and new that may well put to rest one of the myths of the 2025 post season. Whenever I was involved in a discussion about the club’s future, I was told that the Demons were doomed in the short to medium term because they would struggle to replace their two hard nosed midfield premiership champions in Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver. That pair, along with Angus Brayshaw who retired two years ago with recurring concerns about concussion formed a midfield par excellence in 2021 with Jack Viney who now faces a long stint on the sidelines following Achilles surgery. Leaving aside off field and locker room issues, the problem with that is the fact that by 2025, the midfield had become out of touch with the new modern game; despite being served by a multiple All-Australian ruckman, it was ranked 13th in clearances and when it won the ball out the middle, the connection with the forwards left much to desired. It was abysmal. Enter new coach Steven King and the new guard that promised swifter and smarter movement of the ball around the field. The first glimpses were there on Friday afternoon. Kozzie Pickett was already transitioning into more midfield minutes and he continued in his role mixing it with explosive movement inside the forward line. He was joined up there in combination with his brilliant cousin Latrelle who dazzled with his quick footwork in a great first up display. The pair promise to wreak havoc anywhere from the middle of the ground to the goal line. The new look midfield was complemented by former Saints captain Jack Steele, promising youngster Harvey Langford and premiership pair Trent Rivers and Tom Sparrow who have spent years waiting for the opportunities that now await them. The refreshing thing about Steele was his steadiness in and around packs and his reliability around goal. This new generation in the engine room is giving new freedom of opportunity for the forwards. Brodie Mihocek had a brief two goal cameo before going off on concussion protocols but his replacement, the uncapped Luker Kentfield, complete with Batman-like mask to protect a facial injury, staked his claim with three nice goals of his own. Jacob van Rooyen and Bayley Fritsch were always dangerous and Kade Chandler, effective as always. The performances of another former Saint in big Max Heath as cover for Max Gawn who was rested after State of Origin duties, with the assistance of Kentfield suggest that the club’s recruiting for specific needs is a likely winner. The talk of the town might be the impact of the two Picketts and the new found midfield but the resurgence of the defence should not be underestimated. The leadership of Jake Lever and Tom McDonald, the growing stature of Daniel Turner and the rise in confidence of Blake Howes were instrumental in containing the opposition to a sub 50 point score. Newcomer Changkuoth Jiath was lively with some ground breaking runs in the first half and Koltyn Tholstrup and Xavier Lindsay showed the benefit of the development time they have experienced. We also saw a glimpse of 2025 first round pick Xavier Taylor. Let’s not forget that a year ago, the Demons thrashed the Roos in a preseason game at Arden Street only to have the table turned decisively in Round 2. Still, while you’re only as good as your opposition, the season’s first competitive workout suggests that a lot more has been found than lost over the post season. MELBOURNE 6.3.39 9.8.62 13.11.89 20.15.135 NORTH MELBOURNE 2.4.16 4.6.30 6.6.42 7.7.49 GOALS MELBOURNE K Pickett 5 Kentfield 3 Chandler Mihocek Steele 2 Fritsch Langford Laurie Sharp Tholstrup van Rooyen NORTH MELBOURNE Darling Larkey 2 Duursma Powell Zurhaar BEST MELBOURNE K Pickett Steele Langford Lindsay Turner L Pickett NORTH MELBOURNE Simpkin Davies-Uniacke Larkey Daniel INJURIES MELBOURNE Brodie Mihocek (concussion) NORTH MELBOURNE Riley Hardeman (ankle) REPORTS MELBOURNE Nil NORTH MELBOURNE Nil CROWD TBA at Casey Fields VFL CASEY DEMONS 5.1.31 7.2.44 12.5.77 NORTH MELBOURNE 3.2.20 8.7.55 11.12.78 GOALS CASEY DEMONS Ah-Mu Laplanche Matthews 2 Bowden Cheffers Kentfield Onley Sharp

Melksham has been back in full training for several weeks and took part in last week’s intraclub match. He was also on the track on Wednesday, so unless there’s been a new setback or recurrence, he was probably just managed this week. I’d expect him to line up against the Tigers.

According to Chaplin towards the end of this interview Max should be back to take on the Tigers as well as Petty. CJ & Salem are expected to play the full game.