Demonland

TRAINING: Viney, Clarry, Lever, TMac, Rivers, Petty, McVee, Bowey, JVR, Hore, Tom Campbell (in training guernsey with no number), Woey, Tholstrup (wearing #12), Windsor, Jefferson, Laurie, Turner, Verral, Howes, Sestan, AMW (wearing #45), Adams, Brown, Kentfield

The rest of the players are coming onto the track now. I will compile a list shortly.

Reigning Keith Bluey Truscott champion Jack Viney is the first one out on the track. Jack’s wearing the red version of the new training guernsey which is the only version available for sale at the Demon Shop * * not an advertisement

Of course

One curious onlooker has arrived.

It’s a beautiful cool morning down at Gosch’s Paddock and I’ve arrived early to bring you my observations from today’s session. Let me know if you want me to look out for any players in particular.

Best mates set for AFL

To my knowledge based on the reports to date Harry has not been present at any of the preseason sessions. He was in the same draft year at Bowey & Laurie so not sure why he is not required but it could be because he was listed with the Lions and they finished the season 5 weeks later than us he might not be required/allowed to start training until a certain date.

Demonland Trackwatchers ventured down to Gosch's Paddock for the final week of training for the 1st to 4th Years until they are joined by the rest of the senior squad for Preseason Training Camp in Mansfield next week. WAYNE RUSSELL'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS No Ollie, Chin, Riv today, but Rick & Spargs turned up and McDonald was there in casual attire. Seston, and Howes did a lot of boundary running, and Tom Campbell continued his work with individual trainer in non-MFC attire! No, just mild jogging and stretching I arrived early enough to witness Fritta and Salem competing in a spirited goal-kicking competition. There was much bragging and rule modification going on. At one stage a trainer was called on to adjudicate if the kicker wasn't overstepping the boundary line. It was a close thing, but Fritta claimed to be ahead before I moved on. Tom McDonald turned up in his casual gear and chatted to Tom Campbell on the boundary. Raised a question mark for me over a possible injury. No evidence to confirm this though. The main activity, when I was there, was the competitive, 9 v 8 ball-movement from goal to goal. I concentrated on the younger brigade. Speaking about goals, the set shot routines were a big improvement on previous sessions, with Roo, Kentfield, Disco and Jefferson all slotting goals. The 9 v 8 exercise lacks the pressure of a full team scenario, but ball movement is rapid. Today, Kynan B got his hands on it a lot and was more successful hitting targets. Windsor, Tholstrup, Bowey and AMW all provided excellent link up during transition. Jed Addams was good today, looking more confident and reading the ball well to out-position his forward opponent. He also took a couple of strong grabs. Petty also keeps the young forwards under pressure with his size and speed. WINTER DAN'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Multiple successive ball movement sessions. Half ground, full, then super small dense. Bowser the standout with some piercing kicks. Turner making things happen up fwd too. Think it was him with a great double spin out of two tackles. Howes (on laps) not the skinny stick anymore. Pup has filled out too. Liked his evasiveness, playmaking, good low kicks ( bit of Jagga about him). No he wasn't unfortunately. DITCHA'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS I attended some of the training. I was made to feel old seeing Viney, Brown, and Woey standing next to each other because I can remember their father's playing in the same team. It was good to see Lever at training doing some kicking on the side. Jefferson looks very good. FRITTA AND TURNER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Last time I sought the shade but this time the sun, and now a fickle wind. It is fly season in melboure but luckily one of the other track watchers shared the repellent. Thankyou. Only about 20 or so players running around. Windsor did most of the drills but pulled out to do some work on the boundary a couple of times, then back into it. Howes and Sestan had some hamstring? awareness so did some stretching and running on the boundary. Lever was there doing some weirdo stretching exercises then running the boundary to build up fitness. Spargo was also doing similar, but still running in straight lines. Told to concentrate on rhythm and mechanics rather than speed. Hopes to be back in full training after Xmas. Tom Campbell running laps to build fitness. Still hasnt got his proper kit yet, and when you look at the size of him I dont think there will be any spares lying around. Viney leading from the front and addressed the players at one of the breaks. Sparrow and the Roo look like they enjoy training. There was much run and carry through the center and Boweys delivery stood out. TMac in civvies watching on. ROOST IT FAR'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Dropped past today and on my observation Adam’s looks the real deal and Jake Lever looks to be in great nick. Good to see Charlie Spargo up and running and Tholstrup looks fitter and was in plenty. The highlight was Bowey’s kicking. He could be a weapon off half back with his precise, low and hard passes. As usual Jack Viney looks magnificent. WHERE DEMONS DARE'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS I made my way down from Wodonga to watch training for the first time since 21' and brought my wife along with me which she enjoyed. Fritta and Salo were there well before the rest of the boys had turned up and had worked up a real sweat. They finished their training with some goal kicking games trying to out do one another. The boys were aiming to hit each of the 4 posts and whoever hit it, won the game. They followed that with some drop punt kicks from the boundary where Chocco came over and offered some guidance he said "kick the ball high up in the air" which they both did and totally shanked the kick. They were quite animated about and I could hear them laughing away at each other so it was good to see them in high spirits. The rest of the boys started making their way to the track around 10am about 25 all up in attendance and I saw Tom Campbell doing his rehab in front of me. He didn't look to be in any discomfort, I think he just has some catching up to do. Tom is waiting to get a new training kit, which won't come out for a while yet so that's why he's unfortunately stuck in his casual gym clothes. Sestan, Spargo, Howes, Lever and Windsor on occasion also in the rehab group doing individual routines. Spargo had mentioned how bored he was with his rehab as he was limited in what training he could do, so I felt for him. TMac on the boundary watching on. Some observations I did notice were that the players are still sprinting to the boundary line for a drink and taking a minute rest break. Viney had called everyone in to chat about one of their drills and he was talking about how well the players in the white bibs were performing and that everyone else had to work harder to cover ground and defend better. Bowey spoke up also showing his leadership qualities followed by McVee. I was impressed with Turner during some of the sims, you can see him improving each time and even did a fancy double spin to evade two tackles but then got pinned on the ground by McVee. Some of the hits were pretty physical this early in the pre-season which was good to see. Jeffo is filling out nicely, he's a confidence player so I hope he can learn from JVR how to be an aggressive forward but he'll come good this year I believe. Sestan and Laurie looking leaner now so I expect them to get a few games this year. Kentfield has a really nice size about him but just needs to working on his fitness/conditioning. Verrall a good size also. Important to note that Petty was in everything today and in really good shape. He was even in the second best running group when they were doing half ground 80% pace running on the boundary towards the end of the session. He's in for a big year if he stays injury free! I also heard Oliver is in a really good space and his hand is the best it's been in years so he is fit and firing to go. Anyway I'm on my way back to sunny Wodonga now. I'm backing us in to have a big year in 2025 and playing finals. Let's Go Demons! KEV MARTIN'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS I like being down at the track watching them go through the rigours. They are still into skills and drills. The running component of previous preseasons is minimal. They did a few sets of boundary 250 meters hard runs, just enough to get them on their hunches, after the sims finished. A few got extra runs. My guess is they are getting the kilometres via the drills. At one stage Goody hollered for them to sprint back up the field after a sims action. They did it willingly. The run to boundary area after completions, and as a group, is encouraged. They were a bit off in the sims. That gusty wind caused miss-hits and fumbles. The coaches really want them to do the basics well. Viney is ready to go. His efforts and running are exemplary. Petty is vocal, wants the ball and is setting up many of the plays that come out of the backline. JVR is warming into the training. Looking better every time I see him. Bowey not missing anything, some beautiful hits up through the centre, no room for errors kind of passes. Adams was trying to do the same thing but got picked off or missed the target a few times. AMW is nearly always first to the ground ball. Brown is moving very well when he gets the ball. Finds that space that allows him time to make good decisions. Jefferson and JVR were looking for leads off the back of the defenders blind spots. Lever was running with a funny gait. Maybe protecting his achilles tendons. Campbell is large, he has maturity about him, and moves with some agility for a big man. I can see him being a bit of a protector. The vocal levels were boisterous, at one stage in the sims just about every one of them found voice. They are enjoying it.

Was Spargs participating in the main training?

The Demons are heading to Mansfield for their annual preseason training camp. If you are in the area and are heading down to the Open Training Session then we would really appreciate an observations from the session. Mansfield Tuesday, November 26 9am - 10am: Open Training 10am - 10.15am: Player Signing Session Mansfield Recreation Reserve 35 Highett Street, Mansfield 3722 VIEW MAP

Champion ruckman and brilliant leader, Max Gawn earned his seventh All-Australian team blazer and constantly held the team up on his shoulders in what was truly a difficult season for the Demons. Date of Birth: 30 December 1991 Height: 209cm Games MFC 2024: 21 Career Total: 224 Goals MFC 2024: 11 Career Total: 109 Brownlow Medal Votes: 13 Melbourne Football Club: 2nd Best & Fairest: 405 votes

The Demons’ aggressive small forward who kicks goals and defends the Demons’ ball in the forward arc. When he’s on song, he’s unstoppable but he did blot his copybook with a three week suspension in the final round. Date of Birth: 2 June 2001 Height: 171cm Games MFC 2024: 21 Career Total: 106 Goals MFC 2024: 36 Career Total: 161 Brownlow Medal Votes: 3 Melbourne Football Club: 4th Best & Fairest: 369 votes

Demonland Trackwatchers took advantage of the beautiful sunshine to head down to Gosch's Paddock and witness the return of Clayton Oliver to club for his first session in the lead up to the 2025 season. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Clarry in the house!! Training: JVR, McVee, Windsor, Tholstrup, Woey, Brown, Petty, Adams, Chandler, Turner, Bowey, Seston, Kentfield, Laurie, Sparrow, Viney, Rivers, Jefferson, Hore, Howes, Verrall, AMW, Clarry Tom Campbell is here training separately with trainers not in Dees training gear. Windsor running laps after the warm up. Boys starting some basic kicking drills post warm up. Tholstrup wearing number 12. Clarry looking sharp and a lot fitter and trimmer than last preseason. There’s a guy here who looks like Harry Sharp but I’m not close enough to tell and he isn’t training. Choco just yelled out to the players that the kicking in the last drill (no pressure mini circle work) was great and that he wants to see it continue that way in the next drill which has more pressure. Not Harry Sharp. The guy we thought was Harry Sharp is Tom Couch who is coming on board as a conditioning coach. Woey back in number 40 guernsey. Kick out simulation drill taking the ball from defense to forward line. Clarry and Rivers lining up on each other. Verrall is a big unit. Petty playing as a defender. Whether that is because there are no other senior defenders training (TMac, May, Lever) is anyone’s guess. Turner, JVR & Jefferson are the targets up forward. Kentfield playing forward of centre too. With the simulated kick out to forward line transition drill their are 2 teams, blue and white, with white outnumbered. Players swapping blue and white to simulate them having to attack or defend in the their particular position. Judd playing mainly in defence. Andy Moniz-Wakefield wearing #34. Petty on JVR in this drill. Again could be for lack of senior defenders at these early sessions. Ball was miskicked to JVR and Petty read the fall of the ball better, mopped it up only to be immediately sandwiched in a tackle between JVR and Tholstrup. Looks like Chandler might be doing some more midfield/high half forward this season perhaps replacing Nibbler’s role. Something new from a “discipline” perspective as opposed to previous preseasons. Whenever a drill is finished and they go to get water on the boundary. They have to sprint to the boundary. Nothing groundbreaking but reckon it sets a standard. Players doing sprints along the square line of the wing. When the whistle blew they were instructed to get water and as per my previous post they had to sprint to the boundary. Few players were gassed and on their haunches and a few players yelled to get up saying “body language”. Player quickly bounced up. Obviously a standard is being set. Team split into 3 rotating drill groups. 1. One on One marking and if dropped a tussle to get the loose ball 2. One on One loose ball on the ground with the player who doesn’t get the ball having to tackle. 3. Another one on one loose ball but with the goal for the player who wins the ball to get a handball off to a player running past. Tholstrup and then Sestan doing some tackling work with a trainer before rejoining the drills. Windsor back doing the contact drills after doing fast paced running along the boundary. Runners are now on. Some players running at a good clip along the boundary and some sprinting the length of the Centre square. Brown, Woey, Chandler and Laurie the best of the boundary runners. Tholstrup making sure all the boys get off their asses and “get up” in the rest periods. Clarry gassed after the sprinting. Not the only one. Sprinting and running finished. Now goal kicking practice. I have to leave so I guess we’ll have to wait until Round 1 to see if they’ve improved. FRITTA AND TURNER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Demonland pretty much has got it all covered but ... Arrived at 9.45 and cones and coaching staff were in position, awaiting the players. Big news obviously was Clarry in attendance; he was greeted enthusiastically by Goody. I thought one of the players might have been Sharpie, but the Ghost Writer sorted that out for me. It was Tom Couch who has taken up a conditioning coaching role. The boys looked very sharp, carrying the ball through the center for a long kick to JVR, Jeffo for a goal. Some of the boys have that AFL walk, or strut, that appears as arrogance but more likely simply ther affect of all that lower body conditioning. Sprinting back to the boundary line after a drill was noticeable. Choco was in strong and demanding voice. One of the coaches light heartedly called out 'F... Cheat' during one of the competitive drills. Viney was the most senior player training. WAYNE WUSSELL'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Can't add much to what Demonland has already posted. Clarrie cruise through some early drills, but when they moved to the full ground activity, he showed he still has that burst speed. On one occasion he ran with the ball from the centre through to the 50-metre zone, being hotly pursued all the way by Riv, who couldn't quite catch him. Another highlight for me was seeing Tholstrup leading to a high kick, being shadowed by AMW. Tholstrup leapt high and almost grabbed the mark on the second attempt, however, AMW got a hand in to spoil in the air then mopped up the loose ball. All of this at top pace. Viney was Viney! Hard as nails, bouncing up like a rubber ball when taken to the ground. Howes continues to excite with defensive run and fine spoils in the air, much like Jud when he burst into the team. Riv looks great and seems ready to build on last year's excursion into the centre square. Marty Hore is another who looks to be at peak fitness levels already. Sestan looks comfortable in his role linking with the forwards. Another who has returned looking in better physical shape than last season. Browny gets a lot of it and has genuine pace. One rapid run on the Punt Road wing, bouncing the pill, was scintillating until the ball refused to come back up and he stuffed it. Got caught! Disco is not quite as tall as Roo or Jefferson, but he makes up for it with timing and those great hands. KEV MARTIN'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Got down for a quick look. Had a tennis game to go to so only got a glimpse. One particular drill involved a keepings off via kicks. They were looking for space and accuracy. One of Choco's gems was "see the space before you get the ball, so you know where to move to" Saw some sims. They players love it. Once into the bibs and no bibs, I could see the joy on their faces (let's get into it kinda joy). The backline passed it around until a lead up field was "on". Goody was hanging in this area. Then they were getting a flood going. Often finding another pass or an outside run. Bowey was doing some beautiful passes. Looks like he has really matured in his execution, good vision and decision making. The ball went quickly into the forwards. There were three of them and doing hard leads in all directions, though with the pattern that Chaplin wants. I get the impression that they may resort to getting as many mids around the contest as possible and having a very high forwrad set up. Petty is strong, healthy and having plenty of involvement. Rivers has filled out, looking big and fit. JVR is working on creating separation, seems to be getting off the blind area of defenders, as he makes leads towards the goal from a high up field position. I thought Tholstrup's kicking is improving. His greatest assets are the intensity, the leadership and support. When Kentfield had a error he was the first and only one to get over to him with reassurance. Laurie is moving and executing those disposal well, AMW is the same. Woey is playing very sturdy footy. K.Brown has lots of upside, speed and a natural footy brain. Unsure about Sestan. Good skill set but is he going to be able to get to the ball and perform when the speed increases from VFL to AFL. He was getting rushed. Would really like to him develop some explosive 5/10 meters runs. I've only seen the one gear. Going to be lots of pressure for spots, as I reckon the the second tier of players are looking great.

Sprinting and running finished. Now goal kicking practice. I have to leave so I guess we’ll have to wait until Round 1 to see if they’ve improved.

Clarry gassed after the sprinting. Not the only one.

Tholstrup making sure all the boys get off their asses and “get up” in the rest periods.

Brown, Woey, Chandler and Laurie the best of the boundary runners.

Runners are now on. Some players running at a good clip along the boundary and some sprinting the length of the Centre square.