Demonland

I was in a conversation with some mates over coffee this morning, and they were questioning the future of Melbourne (the footy team). They were damning of the club's short-term prospects without two premiership midfielders who they said “jumped ship last month”. It's futile to argue with the skeptics, although I could have pointed out that Tracc and Clarry were advancing in age; we experienced a second consecutive year of 14th place failure with them in the midfield this year – not a premiership season like 2021 – and the move was by mutual agreement anyway. I could have referenced this morning's newspaper, which featured the Demons looking revitalized, like a “million bucks”, with the new coach introducing fresh ideas and securing commitments from new players at their second club. I could have mentioned that draft night is imminent, and we are poised to acquire more top talent to augment our squad. While I am weary of power rankings and phantom drafts, I share here Cal's top 30 late mail rankings in the hope that the players the Demons select over the next few days will meet the expectations of true supporters over those of my coffee-drinking colleagues. Pick 1 – West Coast: Willem Duursma Pick 2 – Gold Coast: Zeke Uwland (matching West Coast's bid) Pick 3 – Carlton: Harry Dean (matching West Coast's bid) Pick 4 – West Coast: Cooper Duff Tytler Pick 5 – Gold Coast: Dylan Patterson (matching Richmond's bid) Pick 6 – Brisbane: Daniel Annable (matching Richmond's bid) Pick 7 – Richmond: Sam Cumming Pick 8 – Richmond: Sullivan Robey Pick 9 – Essendon: Xavier Taylor Pick 10 – Essendon: Dyson Sharp Pick 11 – Melbourne: Jacob Farrow Pick 12 – Melbourne: Cam Nairn Pick 13 – Essendon: Lachy Dovaston Pick 14 – Hawthorn: Sam Grlj Pick 15 – North Melbourne: Latrelle Pickett Pick 16 – Sydney: Harry Kyle (matching GWS's bid) Pick 17 – Greater Western Sydney: Oskar Taylor Pick 18 – Gold Coast: Jai Murray (matching West Coast's bid) Pick 19 – West Coast: Beau Addinsall Pick 20 – Western Bulldogs: Josh Lindsay Pick 21 – Adelaide: Mitch Marsh Pick 22 – Carlton: Jack Ison (matching Geelong's bid) Pick 23 – Geelong: Blake Thredgold Pick 24 – West Coast: Tylah Williams (matching Fremantle's bid) Pick 25 – Essendon: Adam Sweid (matching Fremantle's bid) Pick 26 – Fremantle: Aidan Schubert Pick 27 – Hawthorn: Liam Hetherton Pick 28 – North Melbourne: Harley Barker Pick 29 – Sydney: Lachie Carmichael (matching Western Bulldogs' bid) Pick 30 – Western Bulldogs: Louis Emmett

I'll post the audio/video when it becomes available shortly.

Veteran Demonland Trackwatcher Kev ventured down to preseason training to bring you his observations of this mornings session which included the 2km Time Trial. KEV'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSA cold morning with a gusty wind. It was all about the run. They started in runners, doing sprints through the middle. Then gathered into the associated groups for the 2 km trails. The head group had Sparrow who led most of the way, though CJ hit the lead 250 meters out, I am unsure what the result was, did Tom have another kick, or did CJ set the new standards. Henderson in third and Chandler holding onto the group came a close fourth. I may be wrong with the placings! Oscar Berry worked hard at the back of the pack. They then gathered with support, and the joy was obvious that that was over, especially during the next drills. First time I'd seen them having an organised kick to kick with a partner in a while (we dropped that type last season). The mids and backs, in kick to kick, as the forwards are working on the routine of goal kicking. Some drills of tackling and ball handling. A bit of all in, tackling, moving through traffic, and snapping for goals starting just inside the 50 arc. About six to eight in defensive bibs. Using six balls, which go flying at goal after a bit of tick-a-tack, forward push and the whistle to have a go. I loved JVR work. He is looking good. The sims had them going extremely fast. Again the offense outnumbered the defense. Coaches moved the ball so to get them transitioning fast. The right side of the paddock could use the ball for one, two or three actions then alternate to the left side team. Really direct footy, the emphasis was quick ball, no stationary all roll, go take it on, with the defensive corralling, tackling, intercepting, pressing. Plenty of angles with kicks to advantage of the lead. CJ with beautiful runs, taking them on, though Windsor picked on him. Heath can move well for a big. Has a reliable shot at goal as well. No longer shy, as the warmth is developing within the team. Lever captaining the backs well, McDonald working with Howes to zone, but were often outnumbered. Our runners looked primed. Then into squad goal kicking in a structured way. I am yet to see any of them on the boundary doing the miracle shots. There will be big changes in our game style, if the few preseasons I've seen have any similarities to game day. HERALD SUN REPORT ON THE DEMONS PRESEASON TRAINING SESSIONDEES TIME TRIALThe Demons continued their pre-season campaign as some more senior players poured in ahead of schedule with Bayley Fritsch, Christian Salem and Jack Viney all in attendance. The session kicked off with the dreaded 2km time trial. Coaches split the squad into groups starting at staggered locations around the ground. Viney watched on from the sidelines but was vocal in support of his teammates. A lean looking Jacob Van-Rooyen continued his impressive preseason, leading home his group with a time of 6:48. THE RUNNING CONTINUESOnly 15 minutes after the gut-busting time trial, coaches ramped up the intensity with nearly the full squad moving into fast paced ball movement work. Blake Howes saw plenty of the Sherrin and impressed equally with his ball use, showing a level of class by foot. Tom Sparrow also impressed with strong ball use and pressure, regularly forcing errors from teammates as the opposing teams took turns picking their way through the others defence across the length of Gosch’s Paddock. Coaches ensured that the ball was constantly in motion, forcing high intensity running showing a glimpse of what the style under Steven King might look like. SKILLS WORKIt wasn’t all running as the Dees look to alleviate a few problems that plagued their disappointing 2025. The Dees under King are showing a clear intent that they are looking to do the basics better, with the whole squad working through a short session of kick to kick. The forward group also peppered the nets behind the goalposts as they worked on their goalkicking, an area in need of significant improvement after an average year in front of goals. DEESPICABLE ME'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSWent down this morning which was my 3rd trip this pre-season. It's obviously so very early yet without the senior men back but still I have seen enough to make a few judgements and observations. Firstly on the running, there were 4 or 5 groups running at intervals and with some players getting passed and at one stage one group going in the opposite direction it was hard to keep up with but I was very impressed by Kolt who blitzed his group by almost 40 metres. This was a quality group with Culley running very strongly in second with Windsor and Langford 3rd and 4th going okay. Sparrow and CJ had a good battle in one of the other groups, AJ easily won his group powering away to beat JVR who did well to get up for 2nd with Lindsay bringing up the rear and another really good battle was Kentfield and AMW. AMW just sat on Kentfield and got away in the last 50 metres. He looks good even though he's not yet back in the main group. New recruit Berry got lapped by Kolt and ran last by a margin but completed the task and it was nice to see Kolt make his way across the oval to Berry to chat and encourage him. Kolt has real star quality about him, he is probably one of the players who can step into the vacuum left by Tracc and Oliver leaving. I know he's barely in the top 22 let alone the top 50 of the AFL but there is something about him and if his footy can rise to a break out season .... well anyway he has started his pre-season well. Another who looks like he might rise to another level is Jai Culley. Has put himself in everything from contested mid work to impressive forward play and he, like Kolt is very fit. In one end to end drill he played forward, always found space and finished well, with a few classy dribblers ala Kate Hore (obviously without the pressure). He is a nice size and most often outmarks smaller opponents which makes him dangerous floating forward. It was great to see Fritta and Salo turn up and contribute. They are super classy without match day pressure and laced out their passes with ease. At one stage they competed in a simple one on one marking, wrestling, scrapping drill with the ball being kicked in from 40 metres away and it was great to watch. Fritta got the best of Salo probably 3 of the 5 contests with finger tip marks or body positioning and Salo won the other 2 with equal class. TMAC wasn't beaten in any of his match ups. Jefferson won a couple of his with nice contested marks. On TMac in the ground drill he was sighting, positioning himself and intercept marking quite a bit and with the emphasis on keeping it all flowing he would play on and 3 or 4 times in a row he was going to CJ who would just turn and sprint,....and invariably run into trouble. It's like he's playing British bulldog, he goes left, then right trying to find a way through. Frost ball is back, he's going to be a lot of fun. Our kicking is poor, we were missing targets under no pressure, just running quickly, and goal kicking for a while there was horrendous. I think they were working at about 20%. Worst offender was JVR who was working at about 10%. Heath probably shouldn't be forward and is nearly marked by me for Casey, but AJ was good and kicked well. He is another giving himself every chance to get a gig. Steele was in jumper 22 and he actually looks a bit like Howes with their thin tashes so I had to concentrate on him a bit coz he doesn't do anything flash, but he is a quiet achiever, just rolling around like he's in second gear, moving the ball on to the next bloke and rarely if ever missing a target. He will be good for us, no doubt. Anyway I love this time of year, it renews my faith in the team and you know, the boys are going ok. Thanks

I think you can take to the bank that Langford will be in #4. You would also have to think that Lindsay is a good chance to be in #5. I don't know why he changed to a blank guernsey since the first session. Perhaps a change of mind taking on the number of such a big name. I just don't see any reason for either of them not just donning their 19 and 20. Good chance that CJ is number 9. You wouldn't think his rig would fit in Sparg's guernsey.

CJ wearing #9 today at training.

CJ in the #9!!!!

I assume the 5th year and aboves will do a time trial upon their return.

On Mobile click your profile picture in the Top Right Hand Corner and select My Attachments and delete any attachments you no longer want. Or alternatively use Imgur or IMG BB to upload images for free and then post the links here.