Demonland

A couple of Demonland Trackwatchers headed down to Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations from today's training session before the Demons head off to Perth for their final Practice Match. KEV MARTIN'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Beautiful morning, not much wind, more than a couple of dozen spectators. The players were up and about, boisterous and having fun. One of their last drills were three teams competing in a hard at it, handball game in a small area. Goody was encouraging them in it and to win. He also took them aside a couple of times and talked to them, during the session. Halfway through training, those that are playing in the Casey game tomorrow left the area. Included were, Tmac, Tom Campbell, Bailey Laurie, Matt Jefferson, Ricky Mentha Jnr, Kynan Brown and Will Verrall. I didn't notice Tom Fullarton or Ollie Sestan. Jack Henderson was training but had no number, maybe he will get a run for Casey. Charlie Spargo was doing some short runs in runners, it was mentioned that he will play at Casey. Those who stayed with the main squad included, Blake Howes, Jed Adams, Xavier Lindsay, Harvey Langford, Caleb Windsor, Christian Salem, Daniel Turner, Harry Sharp, Taj Woewodin and Aidan Johnson. Jack Viney was running well and getting plenty in the sims (two 5 minute sets). Tom Sparrow looking strong and with good involvement. Wings had Jack Billings, Lindsay, Woewodin and Sharp in those positions. Kade Chandler running extensively up and down the field, off half-forward. Johnson struggled a bit keeping up with Max Gawn. At a couple of stages, Gawny was instructing Johnson on the ruck craft. Jake Lever intercepting well. Apart from him stopping our thrusts, we showed good overall skills, with fast ball movement and kicking to advantage. Adams was getting heavily involved and with good skills. Rivers is ready to go, looking very good, as is Jake Bowey. Tracc a little rusty, missed some hits when distributing. Clayton Oliver continues to push himself, working very hard. Windsor was running freely. They had cones ten metres in from the boundary line. Looks like that they want them to find corridors and not safety. I was told they are flying early tomorrow. HARVEY WALLBANGER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Beautiful day - all from our new list present, i.e. including Jack Henderson and Jai Culley. Melky and Judd McVee doing run-throughs, see above re Melky - getting close, Judd said "4 weeks" and that looks believable based on his running. Kolt doing his first running which he was happy about - perhaps optimistic, but perhaps a Round 3 return for him (guessing through Casey because of conditioning required. Windsor in full training, so expect him to play on Sunday. Marty Hore says 3 weeks after the broken hand. Luker Kentfield still very light work. Charlie Spargo did not join the main session will play tomorrow in the Casey practice match. Left early, but it was an all team skills session with the Captain's run tomorrow in the West. Tom Campbell left the track early...maybe he also plays Casey tomorrow and not to Perth?

@binman

The Blues love copying everything that we do.

Still waiting to hear back from @Nasher. I haven't heard back from him through any of the lines of communication that I have with him. I hope everything is ok.

That's probably a good assumption but I think the notion that Yze and McQualter as tactical coaches having left might also be a plausible explanation. It's possible that Jonesy as a former captain and mentor to a majority of the players could be that guy on the bench. It will be interesting to see who is placed where on match day.

Don't tell @binman

Not helpful and I would expect better from you.

Can we please not have another thread derailed.

You’re welcome

Strange seeing Nibbler in yellow.

Carlton watching the Tigers in preparation of Round 1

Mine is still the same too.

You can find out what your current email address associated with Demonland is by going to your Profile and then Account Settings. You can also Change it there to your current email address.

A major software update to the website is coming This software update will require all users to log in using their registered email address instead of their username whenever they are logged out. This is simply a login requirement—your email address will remain private. Once you're logged in, you won’t need to log in again unless you log out or access the site from a new device. Going forward any time that you have to log in to Demonland you will have to use the email address that is registered to Demonland to log in rather than using your Username which has been the way you have logged in in the past. This change appears to be a security measure as part of the new major software update and not something I’ve personally chosen. Most website functions will remain the same, though there will be some cosmetic updates. Initially, all customizations (such as colors and the look and feel of the site) will revert to the default look, but I’ll gradually restore most of them them over time. Additionally, some third-party add-ons I’ve implemented over the years will no longer work immediately after the update. The site will essentially start fresh in that regard, and I’ll reintroduce features as I go. The most important thing is that all content will still be there and you will be able to post as normal which is the main feature of the site. All the rest is just cosmetic which I will play around with once the new software is installed. To be clear all the past posting history will remain the website might just look and feel slightly different but basic functionality of the message board format will remain. This upgrade is necessary because the current software will no longer be supported and the new software may bring some other improvements and features over time. To ensure a smooth transition, please make sure your email address is up to date—this is important in case you ever need to recover your account. When updating your email address in your profile you will probably be required to validate your new email address. If a validation email does not arrive in your inbox then please check your junk folder as it might have ended up there. If the email is not in your junk folder then please contact me and I will manually change it for you. Please attempt to change it yourself before messaging me to assist. I don't have a timeframe for the installation of the new software as I am waiting to hear back from @Nasher to assist me in this process as the initial installation isn't just a software update like on your phone. It requires the technical magic that only @Nasher can provide. Future incremental updates will be easier. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we enter the 25th year of Demonland.

I was just checking to see if you were actually reading all replies and reactions. Your reaction to my reaction has been noted.

In the space of eight days, the Melbourne Football Club’s plans for the coming year were turned upside down by two season-ending injuries to players who were contending strongly for places in its opening round match against the GWS Giants. Shane McAdam was first player to go down with injury when he ruptured an Achilles tendon at Friday afternoon training, a week before the cut-off date for the AFL’s pre-season supplemental selection period (“SSP”). McAdam was beginning to get some real momentum and confidence in his body, following a strong pre-season and definitely in the mix to fill a forward line vacancy for at least the first few weeks while Kozzie Pickett served his three-match suspension from last year’s Round 24. McAdam’s spot was taken by Werribee’s Jack Henderson who had been in the VFL system for years and emerged as his club’s premiership hero after kicking two goals from 23 disposals in its 2024 Grand Final win over Southport. The 25-year-old played for the West Coast Eagles in a match simulation game against Richmond in Perth on the Monday but was approached by the Demons who “hijacked” him a day later. He was close to being drafted by Melbourne last year, but his Werribee premiership teammate Aidan Johnson received the nod ahead of him. The lightly built 177cm midfielder/forward who has been compared to the Tigers’ premiership star Kane Lambert who was also a late starter will now occupy a locker right next door to that occupied at the Demons by Johnson. Then on Saturday, misfortune befell promising youngster Andy Moniz-Wakefield who was victim to a strong tackle late in match simulation against North Melbourne at Arden Street and was placed on the club’s inactive list after scans revealed he required surgery to repair tears to his ACL, PCL and MCL, meaning that his 2025 season was over before it started. The AFL allowed an extension of the SSP in fairness to clubs which played practice matches after the original cut-off date and, as a result, the Demons offered a spot on their AFL list to former West Coast player Jai Culley who was delisted at the end of 2024 after just 12 games with the Eagles. Culley had been selected with first pick in the 2022 Mid-Season Draft, making his debut in Round 18 of the same year and earning a rising star nomination after kicking four goals in his seventh game in Round 6, 2023 in a losing team to Port Adelaide. However, just two weeks later against Richmond, Culley ruptured his ACL and managed only three games last year as he struggled to cement a spot at the Eagles. The 194cm left footer has impressed in his 2025 preseason with the Casey Demons which included a few runs with the AFL team. He received his football lifeline after starring for Casey, kicking his team’s first two goals in the VFL game played at Arden Street in the heat following the same match simulation practice between the two AFL clubs in which Moniz-Wakefield was injured. The dramatic events of the period leading up to the signing of Henderson and Culley has left the club’s list looking like this:- PRIMARY LIST: — Jed Adams Jack Billings Jake Bowey Tom Campbell Kade Chandler Tom Fullarton Bayley Fritsch Max Gawn Blake Howes Matthew Jefferson Aidan Johnson Ed Langdon Harvey Langford Bailey Laurie Jake Lever Xavier Lindsay Tom McDonald Judd McVee Steven May Jake Melksham Clayton Oliver Christian Petracca Harrison Petty Kysaiah Kropinyeri Pickett Trent Rivers Christian Salem Harry Sharp Charlie Spargo Tom Sparrow Koltyn Tholstrup Daniel Turner Jacob van Rooyen Jack Viney Caleb Windsor Taj Woewodin ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY A Kynan Brown Jai Culley Jack Henderson Marty Hore Luker Kentfield Oliver Sestan Will Verrell ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY B Ricky Mentha Jnr INACTIVE LIST: Shane McAdam (Primary) Andy Moniz-Wakefield (Category A Rookie)