Demonland

So far Matthews has participated in all the drills. Not sure whether he will participate in the contact/match Sim type drills but he can’t be too far away from integrating back.

Half backs have a separate drill Howes AMW Taylor CJ Salem Lindsay taken by Jared Rivers.

Johnson training away from main group and not involved in the forward defender marking spoiling drill.

Small forwards snapping for goal. Trelly Laurie Chandler Matthews Mentha Fritsch

Key forward/Defenders Drill Ball kicked up to a one on one forward vs defender grappling with a second defender coming in for the punch spoil. JVR Turner Adams Lever Jefferson TMac May Kalani Kentfield

Midfield ball up drill in the Centre square. Max, Heath, Steele, Langford, Kolt, Pickett, Langdon, Windsor, Culley, Onley

Split into a 4 different groups for different drills.

Sharp did all the warmups with the main group but is now running laps as they start training proper.

JVR resumes training in the warmup.

JVR has his left knee bandaged and is with a trainer away from the main group warmups.

Laurie has the fluro hat on meaning no contact. Left hand/wrist in a brace.

Rehab: Viney, Mihocek, Melksham, Henderson, McAdam Absent: Bowey, Petty & Rivers

Lights are on at Gosch’s Paddock

Present: May, JVR, Salem, Langford, Lindsey, Windsor, Viney (red jumper but in rehab ) Lever, Steele, Turner, Gawn, Tholstrup, Culley, CJ, Langdon, Laurie, Melksham (blue rehab gear), Taylor, Matthews, Jefferson, Howes, McAdam, TMac, Adams, Heath, Mihocek, Campbell (neck brace), Sharp, Fritsch, Sparrow, Pickett, White, Pickett, Chandler, Berry, Mentha, Onley, Johnson, Henderson, Kentfield, AMW.

Mentha, Adams & Berry doing some extra fast running with Selwyn Griffiths. rest of the team doing their warmups.

Demonland Trackwatcher Pickett Fence made the trek out to Casey Fields to watch the session from behind the locked fence to bring you his observations from preseason training. PICKET FENCE'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSA shocking breeze was evident blowing across the ground, To give an example if you were kicking long allow a 20/25 metre cross inswing or outswing depending on which end you were at. NO SHOWS Mc Adam, Both Picketts (well I’m sure I would have noticed if they were there), Tom Campbell. REHAB Viney, Sharp, ( although he was running pretty freely), Melky (who looked very slow) AMW, Matthews, Big Maxxy, and later no 19 and 38, but 19 was not Harvey Langford? Brody Mihocek (who doesn’t look far off). SKILLS.DRILLS AND MANOUVERS 1. Lots of running with skill drills incorporated around drill then Run throughs at top pace then Drills 2. High emphasis in running in waves from ball gather through back line to midfield to center corridor and conversion opportunities. Further it appeared that hesitation and any doubt has been erased preferring to take a risk and overlap rather than second guess the delivery 3. In drills where kicking was evident a higher emphasis seemed to be on taking an extra split second to ensure premium delivery 4. A great drill which I will call reverse herringbone followed a kick to receiver, back up runner to gather, another handball overlap, another overlap then kick or handball to multiple targets. Given the wind this worked quite well MATCH SIM Now this is where it became interesting, the Reds appeared to be the potential 1ts and the White maybe the Ressies. Having said that Petty and Disco ( whites were up against JVR and Jeffo). The reds were clearly a bit stronger and moved the ball well utilising the drills which I have described, there were more overlaps but not overuse that I have seen for a long time. Given the conditions the skill levels were very good, to give you an example A chain of play overlap kick handball from Reds found Fritta in a forward pocket. A set shot for goal aimed outside the left goal post sailed out on the full on the opposite pocket!!, because of the wind!⁹ PLAYER WATCH MAX HEATH: I think we have a smokey here, he rucked well against A.J and followed up with marks and involvement around the ground, he bore a comparison in style to Tom Lynch, I think he will be lock in the starting team JAI CULLEY: I'm starting to believe the hype, his confidence and ball winning and using looked very good today JVR: took some strong grabs and presented very well kicked a nice goal courtesy of Jeffo. JEFFO: Played alongside JVR an I wonder is this might be Kings preferred set up? He dished off twice resulting in goals and took two strong grabs one of which a long shot 45 Just grazed the goal post C.J: Another to impress with his athleticism, Selling candy and run of half back LUKER KENTFIELD: has slimmed down and did some good things LUAMON LUAL: (NO THIS ISN’T A MISPRINT), and he looks and plays just like C.J and if it was him, did not look out of place today, involved and did some nice things. If a LTI eventuated I would have NO hesitation putting him on the list. Others to showed a bit were A.J Competitive in ruck and kicked a nice running goal, SPARROW, RIVERS, HOWES, SALEM and RICK LEVER. NOTE THE MATCH SIM MAY HAVE GONE ON AFTER BUT I LEFT AT 11.45.

MELBOURNEJai Culley spent most of 2025 with Casey, but his final month of the home and away campaign and his pre-season form suggest he is ready to establish himself at senior level. The 194cm onballer has an impressive mix of power and endurance, and the Demons are considering whether he could be an effective supporting ruck to Max Gawn this season with the rule changes coming in. The former mid-season draft No. 1 pick will get opportunities through the middle either way as the Dees will need support for battering rams Jack Viney and Jack Steele.

MELBOURNE captain Max Gawn will enter rehab after fracturing his finger during training. The club’s General Manager of AFL Football Performance Alan Richardson provided an update on the skipper on Wednesday. “Max injured his finger on Monday and will be in a splint for the next three weeks,” Richardson said. “He’ll be able to continue running and will maintain his fitness, which means his ability to play in the upcoming AFL Origin match won’t be affected.” Tom Campbell has also been sidelined, injuring his neck during training. “Tom was involved in an innocuous collision at training and has suffered a neck injury,” Richardson said. “He’s torn a ligament and will remain in a neck brace for the next month. He’ll see a neurosurgeon this week to determine the path forward for him.” Bailey Laurie has suffered a fracture to his hand at training. “Bailey underwent surgery on his broken hand this week, and we’re hopeful he won’t miss too much football,” Richardson said. “His return will be determined according to his hand functionality, but it’s likely that he’ll be back with the main group in the next couple weeks.” Jack Henderson is expected to return to main training at the end of February, with the Demon managing a stress fracture to his sacrum throughout pre-season. “Scans this week have shown that, unfortunately, Jack will remain in rehab for this next period of pre-season,” Richardson said. “While it’s a frustrating outcome for Jack, we know he’ll attack this next stage with the same commendable professionalism as always.” Jack Viney, who has been working through an Achilles injury, has returned to running with the hopes to join the main group shortly. “Jack’s been managing that Achilles soreness and, pleasingly, has been making some really positive steps through that rehab,” Richardson said. “We expect him to return to full training in the next few weeks.” Harry Sharp has suffered a hamstring injury but has started progressing through his rehab and is expected to return to full training in the next few weeks. In December, it was confirmed that Jake Boweyhad sustained a long-term foot injury, with the Demon beginning to work through the early stages of rehab. Tom Matthews (meniscus), Brody Mihocek (toe), Shane McAdam (Achilles), and Andy Moniz-Wakefield (ACL) all continue to progress through their respective rehab programs, with all Demons eyeing off returns over the next two months in the lead up to Round 1.

A legion of Demonland Trackwatchers descended upon Gosch's Paddock for the first open session at the venue this year to bring you their observations from preseason training. WAYNE WUSSELL'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSWatched training for an hour this morning… I’m now finding this stage of preparation slightly boring! I’m ready for real competition, not ‘dancing with your sister’ stuff! No offence to sisters intended, nor to players or coaches. It was a busy hour. Three competitive activities going on at the same time, groups of players rotated through these, so I propped myself up on the fence and waited for them to come to me! Observations; Windsor, Kossie, Culley and Salem were standouts for me. Windsor has developed his tackling to compliment his pace. Good to see May and Lever looking fit. Latrelle and Ricky Mentha in everything. The emphasis in everything they do is on quick ball movement. The intensity is up. Disposals do not always hit the target, but the movement is lightning fast. The ‘defenders’ are always outnumbered. I look forward to seeing our players perform with real pressure from a competitive opposition. Viney ran and ran and ran at a good clip throughout. Agree with others that Sharp didn’t look two months away from rejoining regular training. I thought Kentfield and Jefferson looked good in the competitive drills. Lindsay looks stronger in the legs and hips. GEORGE ON THE OUTER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSI'm with @waynewussell , in that there was little to take away from this session. The match sim component barely lasted 15 minutes, which is where you get an idea of who is playing where, how the ball is being moved, and the chance to see new players in competitive situations. I suspect with the season not far away, that those components are being reserved for the Casey sessions, away from prying eyes and @picket fence Telling for me was that despite the 10.00 advertised start time, when I arrived 30 mins beforehand, the players were already there doing "beep test" runs. That is something I have never seen before, especially more so when it is being done BEFORE the session. Then at the end of the session all players in groups of 4 were running boundary at a fair clip. None of the simulation is now over, get some water and sign autographs. Injury list: Viney, Campbell ( neck), Henderson, McAdam ( again..still), Max ( broken finger), Mihocek, and Bowey and Laurie not present. Then some cameo's from Melksham, AMW, CJ at times, although they ran in the match sim. Better than the 14 on the sidelines pre Christmas, but I doubt we will see anything of a couple of those this season. So with a couple of "train on" players out there today, and reportedly there last Monday as well, I'm expecting a couple to go on the LTI, to enable us to draft in replacements ala Culley last season. DEMON GIRL 35'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSOnly spent about an hour and bit there today but this is what I noticed. Maxy - Ran and ran today. Super fit! Culley - In everything and can see him being a main midfielder but probably just holds onto it that little bit too long. Windsor - Speed to burn! Kentfield - Great mark he is. Trelly - Kid looks very good. Excited by him. Langford - Gets the ball, kicks it to a good option then continues to push hard to receive the handball and get the ball going forward. Working really hard. Lever and Aj stood out for me when a few keys were doing one on one when the ball was kicked up in the air. A couple of great marks. Kolt - Also saw him take a few decent marks when they were doing a little match sim (pretty sure that’s what they were) but his kicking after them let him down. Also ran really hard to add pressure on his opponent which would cause a turn over. KEV'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSBig turnout by the spectators. Weather was great, temp perfect, and a slight wind blowing down field. They went straight into competitive work in the drills they ran. Three stations, all rotated through them. One station had two sides compete, hit five passes and then shoot for goal. After the rotations they separated into: Mids (Tholstrup in there) with a ruck, as they worked on stoppages. Smalls to mediums, one on one at ground ball and snapping for goal. Talls, one on one competing for marks. Then a 12 minute sim. They were regularly looking for the inside ball and getting numbers to that play. Usually only one player will spread to the boundary side. The first shot on goal was JVR leading well (good separation) and finishing from the 50 arc. Jefferson, not to be out done with contested marks and finishes with grace and accuracy from the opposite side and same distance. Bibs scored 7, to the shirts 37 points. Congestion work is improving, with Steele (I like how he goes about it) making sure there is a receiver on the outside. Langford caving through the spaces, linking with one two's, and his angled powerful runs. He appears to have matured, training with confidence and purpose. Chandler linking well. Finished with runs and a cool down. Max G has put on plenty of muscle mass. Chaplin coached most of the session. No goal kicking practice (perhaps pre-training as it started earlier than advertised). This is the first time I've noticed this in several seasons. The evenness in egos is an interesting change. Seems the leadership roles are across the whole team or the pecking order (leadership group) is yet to be defined. Plenty of focus, minimal joviality, lots of professionalism. BANG NA DEMON'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSJed Adams caught my eye with some beautiful kicking under pressure. If he can execute that consistantly at seniors level … Taylor is a beauty, saw him and Disco looking very tight on the track with brotherly hugs. Onley did a few nice things and Latrelle looks good too. One the train on's, a tall blond lad took an absolute ripper mark on Petty in a 1 v 1 contested marking drill making Petty look like the train on. Kozzie is a freak and on another level. ENTER SANDMAN'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSSeeing the boys train today was a lot of fun and there was a good turn out amongst the fans. It was great to see Latrelle and Xavier Taylor live for the first time. The energy is very different from this time last year - a previous poster mentioned the ego levels are lower and I think that’s true - the young players are going to be pushing the older players for their spots and prior reputation means less with the new coach. Also perhaps we no longer feel like world beaters after a few lowly years and are starting to feel like we have to go and chase it again. Windsor and Kossie’s speed through the middle is great to watch. Last year we trained a lot of moving the ball from one end to the other with uncontested marks, utilising precise kicking. This year is more about getting the ball moving and using speed and tackle breaking ability. Culley seems like he will get his chance as an inside mid - and I think Jack Steele might quietly get a spot in the midfield if Viney is missing round 1. Langford did some special things as always. Lever took some great marks. Once main training had finished Kossie, Latrelle and Ricky were kicking long distance bananas from the boundary - kind of challenging each other playfully. Their skills and connection was a beautiful thing to watch. There was also a play in the match sim where Kossie ran through the centre, handballed it to Latrelle and then Latrelle hit up a free forward in the goal square. It’s going to be so fun watching these two play together. ZERO HANGER'S JONTY RALPHSMITH'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSZero HangerTrack watch: First-year forward impresses for decimated DeesThere were plenty of big names absent from Melbourne’s match simulation on Wednesday. Melbourne first-year player Latrelle Pickett impressed at the Dees session on Wednesday morning. Pickett's speed and agility were captivating, enabling him to burst through traffic and weave his way into space, impressing onlookers on multiple occasions. He pushed up to stoppage and gathered the ball cleanly on multiple occasions before accelerating forward, acting as a conduit between the midfield and attack. Sixty days out from Round 1, almost a third of Melbourne's list did not take part in match simulation due to varying injuries. Skipper Max Gawn, veteran Jack Viney and recruit Brody Mihocek were the biggest names limited to running, with the latter pair both continuing to nurse injury concerns sustained prior to Christmas. Changkuoth Jiath took part in the session as he continues to build his loads, while first-year forward Thomas Matthews integrated into light drills before building up his running loads as he recovers from a knee injury. Positively, Xavier Lindsay took part in the entire session after his loads had been managed prior to Christmas. Jack Henderson, Harry Sharp, Shane McAdam and Andy Moniz-Wakefield were others limited to running, while Bailey Laurie and Jake Bowey were unsighted, the latter due to a confirmed long-term Lisfranc injury. Tom Campbell was also missing, with Max Heath dueling with Aidan Johnson in the ruck. As well as Mihocek, Jake Melksham was also sidelined, putting responsibility on Matt Jefferson to support Jacob van Rooyen up forward, while Luker Kentfield was the main man up the other end. Pending the fitness of Mihocek and Melksham, Jefferson and Kentfield could be battling for the remaining taller forward spot, with Jefferson playing seven games last year, while Kentfield is yet to break through but finished the year strongly in the VFL after being swung forward. Caleb Windsor got midfield minutes, while Kysaiah Pickett looked as classy as any when he got the ball in his hands. Jai Culley's strong pre-season continued, using his imperious size at stoppage to fend off and burst through tackles. Culley fended off a tackler and kicked a banana goal off a step from 45 metres out, which concluded the match simulation in stylish fashion. Jefferson, Ricky Mentha and Kade Chandler were among the others to have impressive moments. AFL Academy duo Darcy Szerszyn (Dandenong Stingrays, defender) and Xavier Ladbrook (Gippsland Power, utility) both took part in the drills until match simulation.

Demonland Trackwatcher RedLeg23 ventured out to Casey for one of the first sessions of 2026 to bring you his Preseason Training observations. REDLEG23'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSAbsolute peach of a morning down @ Casey. Got in @ 10am & from the looks of it, the boys were already well into the session. Left just after 12pm & the boys were still out there busting a gut with some team sprints. Here’s what I saw. Rehabbers: Viney - walks & short slow jogs with trainer along the boundary. Looks to be favouring one side as he runs? Seems some way away from main training. Wasn’t there long. Mihocek - 80 - 100m run throughs boundary side @ a decent pace. Was doing so for about an hour. Wasn’t involved with the main group. Mathews - kick to kick with trainer. Trainer then kicking to a leading Mathews out the goal square. Rinse and repeat. Joined all the main running drills & moving well but wasn’t included in any other team footy drills. Edging closer from that PCL it seems. Sharp - not sure why he was in rehab today. A heap of kick to kick with trainer & boundary side running & at a very good clip to. Didn’t seem impeded in any way. Wasn’t involved in any team footy drills. Melksham - was a mix of main group & rehab. Looks fine. AMW - mix up between main group & rehab but was more so in the main group. Looking fit & obviously nearing full training very soon. It’s about 11 months since his ACL. Steven May, Xavier Taylor & Shane McAdam all unsighted. Drill observations: Quick ball movement. Everything done at pace. Windsor looking sharp & light on his feet. Kozzy dangerous. Always. 10v8: goal is to transition the ball from deep in defence to the other end of the park ending in a goal. Clear that we want to move the ball at pace. 5v5: stoppage scenario. Random ball up across the middle of the ground. Win ball & transition the ball to goal as best possible. Good to see the skipper out here training fully. Lindsay looking sharp. Trained fully. Culley strong in the contest. Gets through tackles. Needs to tidy up in-play skills. More full ground transition works from the back half to FF. This time, transitioning / switching down the flanks towards goal. Groups of 3&4’s running the boundary at a good clip. Slow pace for the first 20secs then fast pace for the next 30 or so. 3x groups of 7v7 - concentrating on a more controlled transition play. Match Sim: 5min periods at a time. Saw I reckon about 5 of these. All rehabbers sitting this one out Roo presenting well. Getting involved as a high half forward Kolt looking better today. More of a connector high half forward role, taking marks & hitting up inside F50 CJ looking in good touch. Dancing through traffic & delivering the pill well & very considered. Culley with the contested mark 30m out. Set shot goal. Can’t question his contested & aerial game. Turner v Roo - turner with the contested mark win deep in defence. Trelly bobbing & weaving out of traffic in defence… but then caught. Fritta converts the holding the ball free. Unlucky, but welcome to AFL. Good to see our defensive stocks are looking fit & settled. Rick, Petty, Disco, Salo, TMac & CJ. Bloody hell bowser is a loss though. Harvey getting busy. Sparrow just seems a lot more sure with his decision making this pre season. Less is more works better for him I think. Thats all from me folks 🔴🔵

MELBOURNE Former Demon and current leading player agent John Meesen models the worst Melbourne jumper worn in the past 35 years. BEST JUMPER: A Melbourne jumper hasn’t looked better than the 1994 version – diamond Toohey’s Blue sponsor logo on an acrylic jerkin with collar and David Schwarz in full flight. WORST JUMPER: Melbourne celebrated 150 years in 2008 … with three wins, a wooden spoon and this monstrosity that more closely resembles some sort of cheap-hotel-cubist-print than a footy jumper. No wonder they never won wearing it. MOST FASHIONABLE JUMPER: The red and blue lend themselves to particularly eye-catching Indigenous jumpers, none more so than the 2021 Amunda Gorey designed Ayeye Anwernekenhe’ artwork. FIVE YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT 2018 160 YEARSDees fans remember this very fondly as the last round of the year with a first final in 12 years already locked in. 2010 FIELD OF WOMENFamous when the umpires also wore pink costing the Dees a rare win. 1987 RETURN TO NAVYAfter 12 years in the royal blue doldrums, the Demons returned to the traditional colours. 1000 GAMESWhen they said commemorate 1000 games played at the MCG, the Demons took it quite literally. 2022 ANZAC EVEThe red poppy filled yoke was an eye catching addition.