Demonland

Melksham running laps. Salem working with a trainer doing some light changing directions runs between cones.

McAdam who now has taping on his left knee is doing some runs on the boundary with Reece Conca.

New drill. Players line up to kick to a leading forward running towards the kicker with one defender on his tail and another defender to his side as an interceptor. Immediately after that play another player will kick to that forward who has now tried to get out the back of the two defenders heading towards goal. Other drill. Keepings off handball drill 10 vs 7.

PRESENT: May, JVR, Langford, Lindsey, Windsor, Lever, Steele, Turner, Gawn, Tholstrup, Culley, CJ, Langdon, Laurie, Taylor, Matthews, Jefferson, Howes, Rivers, McDonald, Adams, Heath, Mihocek, Sharp, Fritsch, Sparrow, Trelly, White, Petty (yellow hat), Kozzy, Chandler, Berry, Mentha, Onley, Johnson, Kentfield (yellow hat), AMW REHAB: Salem, Viney, Melksham, McAdam, Henderson, Bowey (bikes) ABSENT: Campbell

Two groups doing this. Third group: one vs one ball kicked high to forward vs defender between May/Lever and JVR/Heath

Petty & Kentfield in the fluro hats. Assume that Petty may have had concussion which is why hasn’t been at training.

Petty’s Back

Love and other bruises by Whispering Jack After a tumultuous season in which Melbourne fell out of the top eight for the first time since its premiership year, coach Simon Goodwin was convinced the path to a 2025 resurgence lay in love. He smothered his players with it over the pre-season and unveiled five debutants for the Demons’ opening clash against highly rated GWS at the MCG. For a short time, the love seemed to be working. The Giants arrived fresh from a commanding 52-point Round Zero victory over Collingwood, yet this contest was locked in a gripping arm wrestle. As the final minutes were ticking away, debutant Aidan Johnson lined up for a shot that would almost certainly have delivered Melbourne a stirring opening-round win. He missed. Moments later, GWS surged forward and kicked the decisive goal, stealing a three-point victory. It proved an ominous sign. That near miss was the first of many for a Melbourne side that spiralled over the next month, tumbling to near the bottom of the ladder after four more humiliating defeats. All were painful including the one at the hands of near wooden spooners North Melbourne, but the 39-point capitulation to Essendon at Adelaide Oval during Gather Round cut particularly deep. The Demons slumped to 17th, ahead of only West Coast on percentage. Gradually, improvement followed. At long last, the team began to feel the love. Consecutive wins over Fremantle, Richmond and West Coast offered the first genuine glimmer of hope, before Hawthorn halted the momentum with a last-quarter surge. Poor goal kicking and a controversial decision in the goal square that deprived Kozzy Pickett of a certain goal had denied Melbourne a comfortable lead at the final change, leaving them instead to chase from a narrow deficit. The revival reached its peak in Rounds 10 and 11 with stunning victories over the previous season’s grand finalists. Melbourne claimed an 11-point upset of reigning premiers Brisbane at the Gabba, then dismantled Sydney by 53 points at the MCG to move within a game and percentage of the top eight. Hope surged — but it was effectively the final flourish of the club’s only premiership coach in more than 50 years. The Demons dropped their next five matches, each winnable, each leaving supporters increasingly bewildered by a lack of cohesion, a misfiring forward line, and opportunities squandered. Inaccuracy proved costly against St Kilda at TIO Treager Park, while the King’s Birthday clash with Collingwood ended in a one-point loss to an opponent ruthlessly effective in front of goal. Lapses in concentration undid Melbourne against Port Adelaide, and the following week they nearly overturned a six-goal deficit after a lethargic, near-scoreless opening term at People First Stadium against the Suns, only for undisciplined moments to derail the comeback. A narrow away loss to Adelaide followed, after Melbourne surrendered a lead approaching five goals and managed just one major from their first eight scoring shots. A morale-boosting revenge win over North Melbourne was quickly offset by another narrow defeat to Carlton. Finals hopes were long extinguished, and the bottom sides were merely playing out the season. The Demons’ return meeting with St Kilda loomed ominously. Melbourne’s all-round strength — the hallmark of the electrifying 17-match winning streak across 2021 and 2022, culminating in a premiership — was now a distant memory. Of particular concern was a dysfunctional forward line and a lack of connection inside 50. Goodwin had been working to improve ball movement into attack, warning that change would not come overnight. Against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, for much of the afternoon, it appeared to be clicking. A set shot from the boundary after the third-quarter siren would have extended Melbourne’s lead to a seemingly unassailable 51 points. It missed, but with the Saints still 46 points adrift, many of their supporters headed for the exits. What followed was a nightmare that lasted 32 minutes and 41 seconds — and effectively ended Simon Goodwin’s tenure. Melbourne’s final quarter was a shambolic, error-riddled collapse as St Kilda, inspired by a masterclass from Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, piled on 9 goals 2 behinds while the Demons managed just four points. The Saints surged to a stunning 15.6.96 to 13.12.90 victory on the siren. Melbourne was shattered. Across the two matches against St Kilda in less than two months, the Demons registered a combined 20.33 to the Saints’ 29.13 — a brutal summary of a side torn between reckless abandon and mounting frustration. Easy shots were missed, tactics faltered, basic errors crept in, yet flashes of brilliance had surfaced earlier in the game. Still, the love Goodwin promised was gone by game’s end, replaced by bruises both literal and emotional. His time at the club also ended soon after, save for one fleeting moment of joy: an 83-point demolition of West Coast. The message was delivered early the following week. Troy Chaplin was appointed interim coach, and the Demons, with commendable stoicism, finished the season respectably against quality opposition, including a pair of narrow losses. By mid-September, Steven King had been installed as the new senior coach and Melbourne was entering a new era. The club had its highlights and lowlights and given the disappointing ladder outcome, the lowlights weighed the heavier of the two. On the positive side, Max Gawn led the club with aplomb through tough times, shouldering a massive load while holding together a team with lingering off-field issues. He was rightly rewarded with his third Keith “Bluey” Truscott Trophy and eighth All-Australian ruckman blazer – a testament to his tireless work ethic. Christian Petracca found his groove after a tough injury, splitting time between midfield and forward, and was rewarded with Life Membership. Kysiah Pickett's long-term commitment paid off with a third-place finish in the best and fairest, impressive goal-scoring, and a new midfield role. Trent Rivers also found more time in the midfield and he, Jake Bowey, Kade Chandler and Daniel Turner were the big improvers who made solid contributions, while veterans Jake Melksham and Tom McDonald surprised with their great resilience and form. New draft picks Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay hit the ground running, giving the club hope for a quick turnaround. However, the season had its downsides – a 14th-place finish and only seven wins, with seven games lost by ten points or less. Poor kicking accuracy, particularly from Petracca and Clayton Oliver, didn't help. Injury to Jake Lever was a blow to the team’s defense while Steven May’s injury worries and a suspension also hurt. The off-field issues and a lack of cohesion within the playing group and not having a full time chief executive didn't make things easier but with almost a quarter of the list turning over and a new coach at the helm, there's hope for a brighter future. The club has premiership experience and maturity and a nice mix of young talent for the new coach to work with in the years to come. What it still lacks is that long promised home base whether at Caulfield or elsewhere but, as they say in football, there’s always next year or the year after (… embarrassed shuffling of paper …). The club’s partner teams both successfully returned to the finals. At VFL level, the Casey Demons concluded the year with 11 wins, one draw, securing 5th position on the ladder, largely attributed to a strong second-half resurgence. Under the astute coaching of Taylor Whitford and the leadership of Deakyn Smith, the team demonstrated notable improvement, with three new players - Riley Bonner, Mitch Hardie, and Tom Campbell - earning recognition in the 2025 VFL Team of the Year squad. Bonner was also the club best and fairest winner. Bailey Laurie, Jed Adams, and Luker Kentfield consistently showcased their ability to impact games and promise of better things to come, while the young and promising Paddy Cross displayed significant growth in attack. Jai Culley, who was promoted to the AFL list on the eve of the season, made substantial strides forward, culminating in his well-deserved selection for three Melbourne games late in the year. Whitford gained a promotion within the Melbourne ranks and has been replaced for the role at Casey by Gippsland Power’s Rhett McLennan for the 2026 season. The Melbourne AFLW team, under the guidance of Mick Stinear since the competition's inception, regained their status as a powerhouse, partly due to a favourable draw that helped their return to the finals. However, suffered a significant setback in the second round when champion midfielder Liv Purcell sustained a season-ending knee injury. Despite this, they excelled by finishing with nine wins and a percentage of 209.2%, securing second place behind the dominant North Melbourne combination at the conclusion of the home and away matches. The team lost the qualifying final to their nemesis, the Brisbane Lions, by 13 points, after Eden Zanker suffered a concussion, but they rebounded strongly in the semi-final, defeating Adelaide by 11 points. In this game, Kate Hore made history as the first AFLW player to achieve 25+ disposals and 3 goals in a final. Although they lost the Preliminary Final to the eventual premier North Melbourne by 10 points, this game could be considered a season highlight, as they came closest to beating the Kangaroos and threw a scare into their ranks when they led by a goal at the final break. Hore won the best and fairest award, ahead of Tyla Hanks, with both players being named All Australians alongside Maeve Chaplin, who had an outstanding season in defence. Following the final game, Stinear resigned as coach and was quickly snapped up by the Cats, while Eden Zanker departed for Fremantle. The Demons appear to have a strong list for the future as the competition improves in strength and standards. The Casey VFLW team unfortunately had a very average season. The year at Melbourne concluded with new structures in place. Steven Smith, a former MCC chairman and MFC captain, has assumed the role of MFC club chairman, with Paul Guerra finally serving as CEO. Two all time great champions of the club in Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca, along with several others, have departed, some carrying the bruises of a love gone cold. The thing about football is that new talent will always emerge to fill the vacancies created by those who depart. The preseason program for the upcoming season commenced in November, featuring a new coach and several assistants in their respective roles. A new approach, fresh game plan, and players from diverse backgrounds and age groups have been introduced. Experienced players such as former St Kilda skipper Jack Steele and Collingwood forward Brodie Mihocek bring a wealth of expertise, while Changkuoth Jiath and Max Heath embody the excitement and anticipation of a second chance. Oscar Berry has transitioned from another sport, Kalani White follows in his father's footsteps, and Latrelle Pickett joins his cousin. Additionally, the young and aspiring Demons, Thomas Matthews, Riley Onley, and Xavier Taylor, are welcomed to the team with the expectations we have of young blood. Who knows where the new order will take the Demons in 2026?

Thanks for the feedback, and welcome to the Demonland community. Apologies for the use of nicknames in the report. Demonland has been an active community for Demon supporters for more than 25 years, and at times we can slip into shorthand, nicknames, or long-running in-jokes without realising that not everyone reading is a hardcore follower or long-time user. We absolutely appreciate the reminder and will keep broader readership in mind. That said, please feel free to ask if there are any nicknames you’re unsure about. This is a very welcoming community here, and plenty of friendly posters will be more than happy to help clarify. Thanks again for taking the time to comment, and great to have you involved.

A couple of Demonland Trackwatchers managed to get ringside seats for Friday's Match SIM out at Casey Fields to bring you their observations of the intra-club contest. REDLEG23'S MATCH SIM OBSERVATIONSAnother picture perfect morning down @ Casey☀️👌 Arrived @ 10:15 & you would’ve believe it - THE GATES ARE OPEN!!!🤩First thing of notice, the energy & focus of the boys is super high! Rehab: McAdam running 100m gaps accompanied by Reece Conca. Best i’ve seen him move. Running at 3/4 pace. Adams running the boundary resembling a 50 year old - don’t know what’s the go there but moving very very gingerly early. Max, AMW, Sharp, Mihocek & Mathews head across to another field with a trainer. Petty not training at all - whats the go here? Bowey & Vines also in attendance with the latter also not training. Chandler no show Few drills early then straight into full blown match sim with umpires. Here’s what I saw. 1st QTR: 20mins Straight off the jump, Jeffo with a lovely contested pack mark 25 out right in front. Nails the kick & the boys love it🗣️ Jeffo with the first two majors for the game. Fantastic start from the young man. Whites up early. The deck @ Casey looks a picture. Carpet like👍 Kalani White pegs one back with a goal at the other end. First for the Blues. Latrelle & Kozzy in-play connection is evident & deadly! Jeffo with another contested grab along the flank. The most confident I’ve seen the kid. Deadset SCREAMER from Kozzy👀🤩 You’ll see that on the socials no doubt!!! Come on Kolt. Better than that mate. Couple turn over kicks. Kozzy’s been magical with just about with every touch so far. Cant be stopped & just too damn good. Jeffo again gets separation & marks on the flank. Kick inside 50, lose ball win to Culley, breaks a tackle who then delivers to Luker. White’s with another. Crunching tackle from young boy Reg. Gone HTB! Roo getting busy. Assist in the goal square for Bill. Whites up & about Latrelle with the front and centre gather at break neck speed on the half forward flank. Boy he’s gonna be fun. Intercept through the mid from Reg (X. Taylor for those who may have missed it) who takes it on immediately with the forward handball to Kozzy. Streams forward with a couple bounces who hits Kolt out the back just about on the line. Goal blues. Jeffo running back inside the F50 pocket as he finds seperation again. Mark. Set shot just misses to the right. Been the dominant forward so far. Trelly with the dancing feet, bobbing & weaving through traffic. Chefs kiss. Reg gets forward & wins the 1-on-1 free. Kicks the set shot like a true back man. Shanks it from 40. Qtr time: Blues 3.2.20 - Whites 4.3.27 Heath not in match sim. White bib on & been running the boundary at half pace. Not sure whats the go there. Boys now break into groups of 4 or 5’s running the boundary at a serious clip 2nd QTR: 20mins Beautiful contested fly from Leb across the back flank. Nice mark from Luker (playing in defence now), shanks the switch kick across the ground which is intercepted by Mentha @ the top of 50 arc & in full flight runs & kicks truly from 50👏 Goal blues. Bailey catches Luker HTB, quickly gets it to Kozzy who runs in for the checkside goal. Laurie dancing & weaving who then hits Culley centre mid, Culley darts it to Trelly on the lead who marks & nails the set shot from 45. Riv looking solid, so too Sparrow. Another pressure soccer goal off the deck to Kozz from the top of the goal square. Lever vocal as heck. Love to hear it Low deep dart from a running Riley Bonner through the middle. Aiden Johnson with the lovely contested mark 25 out from Goal. Nails it. Well done mate. Stoppage LHS on F50. Contested win from Onley. Quick hands to Langford with the beautiful kick across his body from 45. What a beauty!👏 You can see why the coined Jeffo the name magician. Bit of flair about him & got 3 or 4 now. Roo aerial game getting stronger by the minute. Another mark. Trelly is a jet people. Sold candy twice deep in F50 then check sides the goal. Lollllll what an excitement machine we have🤩 Kalani on the right side of a Shane Warne wrongen which falls into his lap, snaps across his body 25 out. He’s got a couple. Luker’s had a couple mares across the backline but redeems himself with a beautiful contested pack mark deep in D50. Nice. Pup is all class. Wins a ground ball crumb, picks up swivels & kicks the snap from 15 out. Ball’s pinging at serious pace people. Flow state. Mentha growing. Looking more comfortable & doing some nice things. Blues making a gap in this game now. Great to see Sinnema out there & not looking out of place at all. Neet left foot. Kolt decision making in contested situations is not to the level… yet. Kolt again with the shank to the boundary with no pressure. It was all perceived pressure & that was enough to throw him off… not good signs tbh. Half time: forgot to catch the scores 3rd QTR: 20mins Noticed that the boys have swapped around a bit. Magnets have been flipped all over the place. Jeffo now in defence, Luker now up forward etc Off the opening bounce. Riv with the centre clearance to a leading Luker who marks on the top of the 50. Luker’s real good on the eye when in flight. Thumps it home from 50👏 Bills clearly got talent, just gotta be given a chance I reckon. Kicks another. The transition from Kozzy is amazing. It started with him deep in defence with an outlet kick to the HB Flank. 30 seconds later he marks the ball 35m out from goal & of course he goals again⭐️ May up forward, kicks a goal & celebrates ah la the Duursma bloke An unnumbered small HF named crossy? Looks ok. Kicked a couple Sinnema gets on the end of one. 3 QTR time: Blues 10.3.63 - Whites 12.8.80 Now some team running in between the arcs - aim is to get there within 10 seconds. Rest for 10 then back at it again. Over and over again. Boys are gassed. 4th QTR: 10mins Stoppage corner F50. Roo in the ruck who body’s his opponent, quick hands to Kozzy at pace, breaks one tackle, avaids and weaves, snaps from 40. Taking the absolute [censored] now ✋ So impressed with Roo today. Another contested mark top of the RHS 50 & bangs it home. Got 3 or 4 now. Looks in rippling nick, hardened & covering the ground beautifuly. Scores level now 81 apiece and the few in attendance are being treated here this morning. Liking what I’m seeing from Bill. Very creative, balanced. Surely he gets a good go at it this year under King. Fritta with consecutive goals now. In game scenario - 4mins left and a goal up. Aim for a more controlled / tempo game. Jeffo got a bag now. 5 at least 👏👏 For a nice looking kick, Xlindsay has missed a few kicks he would usually nail. Another one to Roo Full Time: Blues 17.3.105 - Whites 15.10.100 Top performers from match sim: Kozzy - everything he did was brilliant, besides one missed target going in 50. But even the play leading to that was brilliant lol Roo - it’s no wonder he’s moving well, he’s super fit. & now he’s hardened. Worked really hard today & got better as the game went on. Got high up the ground many times too. & he was rewarded. Jeffo - was BOG at qtr time. Very crafty & high IQ type guy. Just gotta do start doing it for longer now. Rivers - he was probably my best or most consistent midfielder today. Just looks to be playing with such clear direction now. He’s leadership is growing. He’ll have a good year Riv. Langford - just love the way he plays footy & I love that he kicks goals & fantastic goals too. Strikes me as one of those blokes that loves the grind of it. Got better & better as the game went on. Culley - so strong. Loves breaking a tackle & has no issue breaking them. Was able to get his hands free & give off to runners many times today. Caleb - cutting lines & angles & with that dash like from season one. Kicked the ball well today. Wasn’t afraid to take the risky ones too. Salem - him too, just looks fit & confident again. This would have to have been his best pre season for sometime now wouldn’t it? Really hope his body holds up & allows him to go back to attacking the play like he use to. It’s now 12:45pm & the boys are still out there busting a gut, but thats me done. THE ANALYSER'S MATCH SIM OBSERVATIONSI was at training today. Couldn't believe how long it went. From 9.30 till after 12.45. Didnt spot Chandler. Also absent was Bowey of course. Campbell only walking in a neck brace. Rehabbers were Viney, Gawn, Melksham, Matthews, McAdam, Heath, Mihocek, Sharp, Petty, Henderson (not sighted). I have no knowledge on their availability. There were quite a few fill ins. DEFENDERS: May, Lever, Turner, CJ, Taylor, Howes, TMac, Salem MIDFIELDERS: Langford, Lindsey, Windsor, Steele, Tholstrup, Culley, Langdon, Laurie, Rivers, Fritsch, Sparrow, Trelly, Kozzy, Onley FORWARDS: JVR, Jefferson, Johnson, Kentfield - A lot of mids rotating as forwards as well RUCKS: White, Johnson & JVR Overall the vibe was good. Lots of talk especially Lever. May instructing a lot. Stand outs: Roo was great Lawrie did well! Culley was great Kosi exceptional Was awesome to see Stephen King stop plays to instruct groups of players clearly. Was a lovely morning! Lots of flexibility with players. Big improvers in Roo, Culley and Jefferson (at one stage was marking very well and kicking quite a few goals) Match simulation report | Jefferson turns headsThis one’s from the MFC Website 🖕

Not related to todays training. MELBOURNETRACK WATCH Latrelle Pickett is making an early claim for a debut come the start of the season, dominating during match sim and general training in his first pre-season. He and his cousin, Kysaiah Pickett, look a class above so far this summer. Jai Culley has been promoted into the No.13 guernsey and looks every bit a best 23 player, rotating through the midfield and half forward line. INJURY LATEST Max Gawn is currently limited with a fractured finger in a splint, but he is still completing almost all of training and won’t miss the State of Origin game in three weeks. Jack Viney has been battling an achilles niggle but is not far off full fitness, and Bailey Laurie is limited after surgery on a fractured hand. Jake Bowey has a significant foot injury that will sideline him for the start of the season. PRACTICE MATCH Friday, February 20 v North Melbourne at Casey Fields (4.30pm – 4x25min quarters, no time on, 2min scenarios to finish Q3 and Q4)

A second practice match has been announced. The Demons will take on North Melbourne at Casey Fields on Friday 20th February 2026 @ 4:30pm. This game is in addition to our match against the Tigers in Ballarat on Friday 27th February 2026 @ 4:10pm UNOFFICIAL MATCH SIMULATIONS (all times AEDT) Monday, February 16 Hawthorn v Geelong Cats, Kennedy Community Centre at 3.15pm (4 x 30-minute quarters, no time on) Wednesday, February 18 Brisbane v Carlton, Brighton Homes Arena at 6.00pm (4 x 30-minute quarters, no time on, extended bench) Thursday, February 19 Western Bulldogs v Sydney, Mission Whitten Oval at 2.00pm (4 x 30-minute quarters, no time-on) Gold Coast v St Kilda, People First Stadium at 7.45pm (4 x 20-minute quarters, plus time on) Friday February 20 Essendon v Richmond, NEC Hangar at 10.30am (4 x 30-minute quarters, no time-on) Collingwood v GWS Giants, La Trobe University Sports Park (Bundoora) at 11am (4 x 25-minute quarters, no time-on) Melbourne v North Melbourne, Casey Fields at 4.30pm (4 x 25-minute quarters, no time-on + 2-minute scenarios at the end of both Q3 and Q4)Port Adelaide v Adelaide, Alberton Oval, 6.00pm (4 x 20-minute quarters, plus time on)* Saturday February 21 Fremantle v West Coast Eagles, Victor George Kailis Oval at 12.00pm (4 x 25-minute quarters, no time-on) FULL 2026 COMMUNITY SERIES FIXTURE (all times AEDT) Wednesday, February 25 Carlton v Geelong, Ikon Park, 7.10pm Thursday, February 26 Sydney v GWS, Henson Park, 4.10pm Brisbane v Gold Coast, Brighton Homes Arena, 7.10pm Friday, February 27 Melbourne v Richmond, Mars Stadium, 4.10pmWestern Bulldogs v Hawthorn, Mission Whitten Oval, 7.10pm Saturday, February 28 St Kilda v Essendon, Mars Stadium, 3.10pm Fremantle v Adelaide, Rushton Park, 6.10pm Sunday, March 1 North Melbourne v Collingwood, Mars Stadium, 3.10pm West Coast v Port Adelaide, Mineral Resources Park, 6.10pm

Demonland Trackwatchers were out in force at Wednesday morning's open training session at Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations of preseason training. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSPresent: 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. Rehab: Viney, Mihocek, Melksham, Henderson, McAdam Absent: Bowey (made an appearance later in the session), Petty & Rivers The lights are on at Gosch’s Paddock. Mentha, Adams & Berry doing some extra fast running with Selwyn Griffiths. Rest of the team doing their warmups. Laurie has the fluro hat on meaning no contact. He has a glove on his left hand. JVR has his left knee bandaged and is with a trainer away from the main group warmups. JVR resumes training in the warmup. Sharp did all the warmups with the main group but is now running laps as they start training proper. He rejoined for most of the training drills but he and a few other mentioned later did not participate in the "Match Simulation" drills. Just to clarify, when we refer to “Match SIM” we’re talking about larger drills that mirror match-like conditions, not a full 18-v-18 practice match played across the whole ground. Full-ground Match SIM or Practice Match sessions are typically held during closed sessions at Casey Fields. Any time I refer to “Match SIM” in my report, it generally means a drill designed to replicate the random, match-like chaos of a game situation, usually on a smaller scale, rather than a structured craft type drill. The group has split into a 4 different groups for different craft drills which has split the squad into their line positions. Midfield Drill in the Centre Square - Max, Heath, Steele, Langford, Kolt, Pickett, Langdon, Windsor, Culley, Onley, Sparrow Key Forwards and Defenders - The Ball is 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, May, Kentfield Small Forwads snapping for goal from various positions - Trelly, Laurie, Chandler, Matthews, Mentha, Fritsch Half backs Drill - Howes, AMW, Taylor, CJ, Salem, Lindsay taken by Jared Rivers. This breakup of players into their lines gives you a good indication of where players are likely to lineup. 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. McAdam and May are running fast laps separately with different trainers. The group has now split into 3 or 4 random groups of players for different types of keepings off drills. Some with just handballs in a more confined area and others in a larger area with kicking. All players cycle through in their groups to all the different drills that are set up around the ground. Mihocek running laps. Melksham and Henderson are on the bikes in the shed. Some type of “Match SIM” about to start. It will be interesting to see who doesn’t participate as it will tell where some are at in terms of full training participation. May and McAdam still running laps. Matthews has left the field and is running laps. Max and Heath doing a grappling marking drill and AMW, Laurie and Sharp are crumbing and kicking it to a leading Mihocek. CJ and JVR doing half laps. There is a small group of 8 (4 vs 4) doing a confined space keepings off handball drill and another larger group (9 vs 9) doing a “Match SIM” type drill confined to the middle third of the ground from wing to wing. The "Match SIM" drill has very fast ball movement and there is a lot of crossing to the other side of the field of play as they attempt to bring the ball from one end to the other. There are 3 groups. The two teams currently competing in the "Match SIM" and the other group doing the keepings off handball drill. Periodically one of the teams in the "Match SIM" is switched out with the team doing the keepings off handball. Max, Heath, Sharp, McAdam & AMW all running laps now. Most of the group doing short running interval sprints around the boundary in groups of 5. And that’s a wrap from me. I’ll be back next Wednesday and I’ll give my impressions then of each individual player. HARVEY WALLBANGER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSAbsent: Rivers and Petty (Bowser turned up, which was nice). Of the rehabbers, I'll take an educated stab on availability: Far Away - Bowey (of course) Viney, McAdam, Henderson, Campbell (still in neck brace and walking only) Getting Closer - Matthews, Mihocek, Laurie, Melksham, Gawn Almost there - Sharp, AMW. JVR had a bandage on his knee and looked a little proppy today. Luker Kentfield seemed to also have a sore foot, but I would not classify them as rehabbers - just two to watch. These Wednesday sessions seem like "craft" sessions so we don't see full-on match sims, just many different drills, goal-kicking, etc... Track-watchers view of "training the house down category" Culley, Fritsch, Windsor, with Trelly Pickett the stand-out of the new boys. Getting a little excited about what Matthews might be able to do as he increases the activities he can particpate in, and with Bowey's absence, Taylor's chances of being in the Round 1 team probably increasing. So many mid-fielders to choose from - have almost forgotten about the old numbers 5 and 13..... DANNY Z'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSMy observations Standouts: Steele - performs every action with intent and professionalism. His kicking was sharp and his transition from attack to defence was elite. Culley - his aerial presence is a standout. What his added is driving his legs out of contested situations. Kentfield - presents at the kicker with intensity and follows up his work on the ground well for his size. Chandler - goes under the radar in such reports but he trains at a high level, does the basics incredibly well. His forward craft like snap kicks and defensive pressure look stronger than ever. Windsor - his 2 steps before he kicks have slowed and this is helping his execution. Looks more balanced. His flair and confidence are high. Ceiling is huge. Fritsch - his leading patterns and evasiveness were at times unplayable to the defender he was opposed. Will be suited to the faster game plan in being able to find space in the 50. Not to be overly negative but a couple of things I did notice also: Howes provides great overrun lap from behind but doesn’t think of ‘what’s next’ when he runs to a certain area so the chain dies out. Langford for his many positives which have been noted throughout the pre season does often take a second to long with ball in hand. Salem was uncharacteristically sloppy with the footy a couple of times. Ricky Mentha has some super high level moments of speed or skill but will just as quickly lapse in concentration. I’ll finish by saying that I feel for Shane McAdam. Two of his three years here spent running laps and watching his mates kick the footy. I hope he gets a chance to show his ability this season at some point. KEV'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSBeautiful morning at Gosch’s, good temp, no wind. Plenty of power on show as they go against each other. There is some care being shown (not as forceful in tackles as pre Christmas hits). That sense of trepidation for this tracker as they close down each other in contests near to the spectators. A tension exist to the possibility of injury, passes my thoughts. They were serious and professional again, except one stage earlier on, they gathered in a circle which ended in rapturous applause and joy. The goal kicking has been integrated into the warm up drills. Smaller groups, with kicks over the mannequin or a snap after bouncing the ball off the mini trampoline. Only a few kicks from the boundary. Plenty going through or close to the goal. A few of the longer snaps ending anywhere. The sim ran cross field and with very small width. I get a sense that the boundary line is the enemy. My guess is that the ball will move quickly through the middle and most congestion will be in the forward or back 50 arc. Ball movement was very angular, rarely a straight down the line hit up unless it was a small pass to open the field up. Plenty of forward leads off the back of the defender. The defenders checked closely through the middle and their intensity was up. It was all watched closely by King, who continues to voice his teachings when needed or appropriate. WAYNE WUSSELL'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSThanks to all the track watchers. I was there as early as Berry and left 90 minutes later. The reports above have been comprehensive and I have little to add... I enjoyed the competitive forward lead to a pass, and midfielder trying to hit the target. For me, Roo and Fritsch were head and shoulders as forwards. Roo hits the ball at pace, with strength, and is showing signs of stickier fingers this year. Steele and Kolt were the best of the kickers in this activity... the former at 100% or close to it. Jefferson and Kalani were clever getting out the back, as others have pointed out, but neither have the hustle and bustle of JVR It was good to see McAdam able to do more than run laps. He is progressing! May will be an important player again in 2026. He is getting fitter every session and rumours of his demise are exaggerated Langdon was a standout today Don't think we will see Melksham or Viney in round 1 McDonald continues to be the most consistent spoiler in 1 on 2 'defend the lead' activity Heath is looking more competitive in the aerial contests and more confident in belonging Sharp is the fastest hammy patient I have ever witnessed! DEEFENCE'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSJust a small observation but Harvey Langford pulled off a very cool J’ai Ali move where he was kicked the ball and he caught it his left hand behind his body and in a scooping motion spun it around to the front of his body washing off the momentum in the movement while the ball looked superglued to his hand. So nonchalant So exciting. Other than that The new Pickett was moving nicely in Sim play, Kolt still rushes things. CJ has the skinniest ankles I have ever seen, Jefferson can strike the ball but sadly I don’t see him coming on with his defensive mindset, just not a see ball get ball type. Langdon excelled in the fwd 50 entry drill (kicking to a player marked by 2 others) Chin impresses in training , most thrill moment was watching Xavier T break two tackles from best 20 players including one from Kossie that had intent, kid is an assassin, top 5 rising star and plays Round 1. GREAT SAGE'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSWatched the entire session today. Key takeways; Culley: Lived up to the preseason hype Kozzie: Looked a class above Steele: Often involved & did not miss a kick. Trelly: Found space in forward drills and some nice tackles. Windsor: Had his kicking boots on and they were working. Luka: Some good grabs, wont be surprised if he gets games. Moose: Is a beast. Jeffo: Hot and cold. Has nice soft hands. Fritta: Fit and energized. Kalani: Looked good for a very raw kid. Kolt: Showed a bit in match sim. Max: Punched ball over the boundary and coached spectator to watch the ball into his hands :). Coaches: Good drills with lots of instruction. TOLSTOYS NUDGE'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSOscar Berry first player out on track & Matty Scarlett is here raring to go with I’m looking fwd to seeing 1st hand. McAdam is in attendance. Recovery atm: Viney, Hendo, Checkers, McAdam & Melky doing handballs with Jonesy. Spoke to Richo who said next week or so Mihocek will be in some contact drills. Side note: Matthews is looking better literally by the touch — agreed slow as you’d expect but is already showing flashes of being bake to do the one-touch things so many players just can’t do! Both Kolt and Jefferson showed some TRULY great signs today. KOLT looks a new man physically and seems to have matured— pressure solid and kicking/decisions best I’ve seen it inc penetration. JEFFO stood out ESP in the pocket leading drills especially in getting separation and his patterns great, held most grabs except a double where there was no pressure, follow-up effort notably looks better, def seems to be in frame for King but needs to keep going as Kentfield is a UNIT, and closing fast — his hands were the best of all today outside Culley. Kalani was a real surprise — found space in the fwd drills (where kicker has to find 1/2 fwds that are outnumbered by / def — Kalani kept find space out back, took ball at highest point etc — so raw and think that he’s clearly a while away but the talent is Def there and he didn’t look out of place at all! Great session — best I’ve seen in years. Ok all — pls see my full training report below largely based on a round-up of individuals I could easily see and felt like watching more than others, but largely I got a good idea of most. Beautiful day for it at Gosch’s, esp when rain held off. First thing that’s CLEAR = Atmosphere/Vibe has changed dramatically from this time last year and 2yrs previous, the vibe is so much more upbeat, focused & just feels like a lot more is being “coached” rather than just trained, if that makes sense. King’s presence wasn’t felt as much but that’s because he was constantly within earshot of a player, I mean the entire session! Chaplin was def the loudest voice & hearing him give direction and feedback to several players was terrific. Jones ran the rehab group a while & was boisterous, whilst Scarlett’s presence was immense in terms of what he appeared to be passing onto the players, def didn’t feel half baked, it was considered, player specific and just in general he gave a number of tips to our key talks, more so fwds ie leading patterns , how to hold-out in a marking contest, time your wrestling for position in majoring 1/1 etc etc Ball movement is similar but also very different, much less thinking involved & more fwd momentum, angles etc. Feels like a tweak and honestly the cattle (better kicks) help, as no butchers were out there Trac, Claz and no Viney so it looked super crisp at all times. Others covered the drills so now here is my player summary; — Notably missing was Harry & Riv. — Standouts overall: This one was easy, as there was a definite few that stole the eyes the entire session & they were: Steele (kicking ELITE in all drills think he missed one kick of the 15+ I saw). From what I saw today he looked like a hybrid of Clarry (inside) and Gus (kicking and IQ). Massively impressed!!! Leb: (kicking was just phenomenal in the i50 entry drills then again in the middle Of ground sim. Pressure was what also stood out, was huge in every contest and chased hard tackled hard & looks a player who’s grown into his skin and now KNOWS he belongs. He’s Moo Kowal mixed with a bit of Tingay. Best I’ve seen him, might just be an elite mid ala Holmes this year. Langford (oozes class, looking like the alpha, just knows what to do and when to do it and while kicking was a little off today, his presence is just nothing short of magnetic). Has to play on-ball 70-80% then up fwd as a pinch hitter. With Viney, Steele, Kos, Riv, Len alongside him boy.. it’s drooling time!!! Mentha (surprise indeed, but he’s got a real presence now, sized up a bit & continually found more of footy than I’ve seen previously commanded the pill and evaded while keeping composure several times). If we weren’t so strong in similar spots I’d lock him in for R1 that’s how much he stood out for us. Everything was one-touch! Looks like a wingman to me.. time will tell! Culley (sure hands, great 1st step, leap, tackling pressure & seems to already be a player the coaches want others to find, was just class personified & finished everything) Trelly (just looks wise beyond years and it’s obvious hang big Cus Kos there is having immense impact). Was only player I saw as bit kicker and receiver in the fwd pocket leading drill that went for a long while and he excelled in BOTH roles, they couldn’t catch him as the leader as as kicker he was creative using angles and going long or short, he was just a nightmare cover). Destined for R1, for sure. JVR (looks to have mature, grown into body even more and is leading at ball carrier well, took a LOT Of one grab marks, had a real presence about him). Jeffo/Luker (both battled hard all session and yet both look completely different. Luker is a real specimen with beautiful soft vie like hands, but Jeffo was smart, ran hard & got great separation more so than I’ve ever seen before. Really looks to be up-skilling his game w/repeat efforts & got loads of coaching attention as did AJ who was learning got to take ball at highest point in marking drill (solo) then with May giving some 1:1 pressure and wrestling practice — One thing Scarlett told AJ was that he was doing his work WAY too early and that he needs to hold off longer before engaging and use his frame and strength to protect ball drop zone. Luker is HUGE in physique it’s actually intimidating. Chin/Fritta: (such great leads in small spaces, finish so strong & Fritta got out back a lot whilst Chin lead strong at ball a lot and was rewarded. Other Notes: CJ: Quiet today, did a fair bit of running, but looks really engaged and happy — butchered a few by foot but it was a tough session. XL: Used as a HB to fill Bowser role, think he will do well Just needs to keep learning and adapting but he has a crack has smarts & will grow exponentially, then next year or year following midfield beckons. Kalani: REAL surprise packet. He’s obv got a boys body but his positioning for marks and hands were terrific as was his composure in the small circle handball/tackle drills — Dare I say a few grabs looked Darcy-lite in the way he takes it and gets free on the sneak! Salem: looks fit, ready to go & is in a good space. Couple of foot errors but also some good pressure like we saw in 21’ his tackling had bite to it. Max: was just Max, immense leadership and commitment as well as ability, looks really happy & if I’m guessing I’d say he’s SUPER excited atm as he’s sure what team is capable of but has a cheeky feeling it might be more than many suspect — just my read. Bill: Struggled a bit today, missed targets but seemed hampered but the hand so who knows but think as a small fwd he will be back in queue if that’s how King sees him.. AMW: Great to see him back and training well? Def rusty but his running power is immense & he’s going to be a great depth player especially with Bowser out and McVee gone. He looked extremely excited to be out there’s Checkers: Asked him himself when he was due to be back in contact & he was so exhausted from his bike session he could barely breathe let alone talk — but seemed like it was still a bit “wait and see” atm unfortunately! Kolt: best I’ve seen him by a MILE. Looks much lighter on his feet, making faster decisions & looked quick as result. Hit targets, was loud & didn’t appear in two minds at all which is big. Small things but watching him today he had impact & was a top 10 for me. Matthews: LOVE this kid, obv rusty and nervous but he got better and better showing his skills and one-touch base which was awesome, feels like a Greene/Weightman hybrid atm but need to see a lot more obv. Onley: he is so huge, gets ball, good footwork just needs to work on kicking and making faster decisions but oozes belief and class in his movement, I suggest he will look elite in VFL and push for selection late and blossom WOW. Genuine inside/outside combo which is RARE. May/McAdam: looked as good as two blokes whom ran ALL SESSION could look. May was given loads of “Atta boy” from Reece Conca for his repeat running efforts, McAdam was smiling and looked like he’s not far at all. My biggest takeaway was how much better the overall vibe was, no fake BS, just real improvement based comms, smooth gameplay & never any silly drills or plasters unsure what is happening. They’re going something constantly, working on things constantly & we just look so much less stagnant due to more freedom but mostly the cattle and it hating 2 biggest egos slowing us down or hogging limelight. VERY different team, but boy it could be one that offers some real good wins/games and imho will be one that gets better all the time. With so many out it’s exciting to see who makes the cut, so many look good but so few open spots! All 3 parts of ground have 9-12 players vying for 5-6 spots and that felt new. Def more clean onetouch play today, better finishing and Melk/Checkers/Mcadam are on sidelines. FRITTA AND TURNER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSBerry first out on the park followed by the Coach with some unknown, which turned out to be his son, Oscar. Participated in many of the drills, including kick to kick with dad. All present except for Rivers and Petty. Bowey arrived late and was watching on. Obviously has a sore foot. TC in a serious neck brace and walked the boundary at a gentle pace. Viney headed back to the sheds after an hour, pursued by autograph hunters. Laurie had the no contact hat on but did not seem to be troubled by his hand. Max also with the finger guard has become adept at marking one handed. Sharpie running like a gazelle. So much for a hammy. Maysie running laps, moving better than previous weeks, building condition. Mihocek looks ready to go to me. Salo did not have that 'groin niggle' from last Wednesday. I liked the defenders drill, two on one where you block an opponent so that a team mate can get a clear run. 200+ spectators in attendance. DEESPENCER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS2 on 1 marking drill for the talls. Key forwards: JVr, Jeffo, Kentfield Key backs; Lever, Adams, T Mc, Disco, Berry May and Kalani swapped bibs between the roles which is interesting. Wouldn’t read too much in to it but could be something we see with May, and I’d start Kalani down back at Casey if we can find a role for him. AJ doing some rehab work with an unknown left footer, looks fine. Mihocek running at speed. No sign of Petty. Howes, Taylor, Salem, CJ, AMW, Lindsay our small backs working on ball movement. They cycled through 4 different drills. Keeping’s off kicking running handball down the boundary Break from congestion to hit a 2 on 1 forward Breaking from half forward to take pings at goal Hard to read much in to it. I like Onley’s field kicking. Matthews needs to flatten it out a bit but bombed a goal from 50 no problems. Lindsay kicking well in a lot of drills. In general the energy was pretty good and skills reasonable. The Max’s, Laurie, Sharp, AMW doing some light ball movement CJ, JVR and Matthews doing sprints Main group split in 3 teams, yellow off to the side doing some small ground stuff, the other 2 teams in a match sim across the middle of the oval. Kossie is on a different level to everyone else even if it doesn’t always end perfectly. Trelly getting involved too, he loves a cut back in to the corridor kick that sets up scores. A big contest by Luker draws some praise from Richo. Red team: Steele busy, Jeffo making an impact with some defensive hands in and getting out the back, Harvey having a bit of a mare Yellow team: JVR just looks a different player this year, just more comfortable attacking the footy White vs Yellow coming up now. If Lever, Adams and Taylor are our backline based on this match sim we’re in trouble. Yellow just all over white. Salo and Langdon controlling things Nice intercept and run through the middle by X Taylor now tho, gets it to Kossie for the finish. I noticed a number of turnovers from Howes today, but also that he got pressure on Koz and laid tackles where just about no one else from our team would. And I want to see him taking the game on as much as possible at training. Even at Casey he’d have 25 touches but not a single one of them is aggressive. All short sideways or long and wide. I suspect if he makes it long term he’ll be a defensive stopper first but he has to grow his offensive side, if for nothing else just to get out of trouble when it’s hot. He coughed the ball up in embarrassing ways at times last year. EARL HOOD'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSOne drill involved key defenders and key forwards with a coach lobbing high balls to a 2 on 1, two defenders against one forward with Matthew Scarlett instructing how the defenders should work in tandem to deny the forward. It was JVR, Jeffo, Kentfield up against combos of TMAC, Lever, May, Adams, Berry and Turner. Kalani had a go at both roles. It highlighted how difficult it is for a forward to take on 2 defenders when the defenders have time to set up for a long ball. In the drill Jeffo managed to halve a number of contests, getting the ball to ground and following up. ROOOOOOOOOOO'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONSKolt warming up with snaps and it’s going going great to put it lightly He really need to slow it down and work on his ball drop. Tom Campbell here in neck brace. Kolt bringing loads of energy. Just scored a goal in match sim from a turnover he created. 3 goals and an assist for Jefferson. Roo back out there. Xavier Taylor is still looking a bit out of his depth. Struggling to intercept and get his own ball and relying on his teammates but when he does get the ball he his looking to move the ball aggressively. Looking a bit stuck at times. Wants to take the game on but is unsure how to. I'm a bit worried about Trelly's tackling strength. Struggling to run down and bring bigger teammates to the ground. Needs work on core and hip strength imo. Kalani White 3 goals seems to be playing quite deep forward. Similar strengths and weaknesses to Jefferson (take that how you will). Kalani could be a very solid forward. Leading patterns are a bit iffy but once he cleans that up a bit he could be a very solid player. Lever is still stuck under the old game plan imo. JVR not running with the main group. He is on his own running but seems to be going alright. THIRTY-ONE'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBERSERVATIONSSomething I noticed today during the match sim was Reg (Xavier Lindsay) being coached on where to stand against his man and when/how to move to defend, and Kalani being encouraged to chase, at which point he chased a bit late and ran halfway across the ground chasing one player after another. Both are still only kids as far as AFL goes and are still developing. Reg looks somewhat closer than Kalani. Maysie was leading Tom Couch (who has definitely not missed leg day) on the first of the sprints around the oval but after a bit was lagging. He's doing heaps of running and doing some of the drills. CODE SPORTS ARTICLE SUMMARYSummary of a Code Sports article - Ultimate track watch: All the news from Melbourne … (and others) by Oscar Moodley • Latrelle Pickett was a major standout at Melbourne's training as he pushes for a round 1 debut. The cousin of Demon superstar Kysaiah Pickett, looked a class above his fellow draftees as he flaunted his high-level skills. The Picketts were a sight to behold as Latrelle and Kysiah crumbing the packs, anticipating their teammates' movements and providing a real showcase of the family prowess. Latrelle looks poised to push for an early-season debut. • another notable standout was former Eagle Jai Culley, dominating high-pressure zone drills looking ready to impact the senior side this season. He looks to be a different beast in 2026, putting on some muscle and tidying up his foot skills. • recruit watch - Changkuoth Jiath, Max Heath, Jack Steele and Brody Mihocek all look to be settling into life in the red and blue. - Jiath and Steele spent the majority of the training with the main group before moving into low intensity handball drills. - Mihocek trained lightly, managing a toe injury he hopes to shake before season launch. • injury watch - Steven May split from the main group early, having conversations with trainers on the sidelines. He resumed training by himself, doing run-throughs on the sidelines before leaving Gosch's Paddock. - Andy Moniz-Wakefield looks set to make his return from an ACL injury as a potential replacement for Jake Bowey who isn't expected back until mid-season after suffering a Lisfranc injury earlier in preseason. - Max Gawn wore a splint and powered through the fractured finger he suffered last week, spending the majority of training with the main group. - Jack Viney, managing an achilles injury, featured briefly early on in training, doing low intensity handball drills with assistant coach Nathan Jones. He hopes to join the main group in the coming weeks.

If I was to guess I would say it would be a mix of both.

And that’s a wrap from me. I’ll be back next Wednesday and I’ll give my impressions then of each individual player.

Most of the group doing short running interval sprints around the boundary in groups of 5.

Max, Heath, Sharp, McAdam & AMW all running laps.

JVR has rejoined the main group. CJ Still running laps and not involved in the SIM drills.

There is a small group of 8 (4 vs 4) doing a confined space keepings off handball drill and another larger group (9 vs 9) doing a “Match SIM” type drill confined to the middle third of the ground from wing to wing.

CJ and JVR doing half laps.

Max and Heath doing a grappling marking drill and AMW, Laurie and Sharp crumbing and kicking it to a leading Mihocek.

Matthews has left the field and is running laps