Demonland

Melksham and Henderson are on the bikes in the shed.

Someone mentioned it was the bosses son.

Mihocek running laps

They’ve 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.

McAdam and May are running fast laps separately with different trainers

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.