Whispering_Jack

The Casey Demons must be holding their 2026 recruiting cards very close to the chest. They had a very successful drive last year picking up the likes of Jai Culley, Riley Bonner, Mitch Hardie, Deakyn Smith (returned), Riley Baldi (returned), Wardell Lual, Tyson Sruk and a few others but this year, there have been no announcements. In fact, what we are seeing is a bit of an exodus with a few departures.

Code Sports had a feature this week on “The first 100 recruits of the VFL off-season revealed” which contained not a single Casey Demons recruit for 2026.

There must be a reason for holding back the names of the incoming Casey players - hope the wait’s worthwhile.

A little known fact I’ve uncovered about Riley Onley is that in 2024 as an underage player, he represented Victoria Country in the National Under 18 Championships on three occasions. In so doing, he was a teammate of Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay which means that the Demons might well have recruited three future midfield stars from the one interstate representative team.

On 03/11/2025 at 18:24, KC from Casey said:

According to the article:-

Casey Demons have farewelled midfielder Riley Baldi to South Adelaide but are believed to be targeting Box Hill Hawks wingman Ethan Stanley and delisted Kangaroo Miller Bergman.

Bergman, who played 16 AFL games for North Melbourne after being recruited from Dandenong Stingrays, has aligned himself with Berwick in local football.

Stanley returned to Box Hill this after playing two AFL games with Fremantle.

Meanwhile, the Sandringham Zebras have eyes on Casey's Jack Ferraro, who starred at local level with Dingley in the Southern league this year.

Stanley is a 188 cm, 81 kg midfielder who was on the Dockers’ list in 2023 and 2024.

Bergman is a 189 cm, 73 kg defender who was at North Melbourne from 2022–2025 and played 16 games during that period.

Paul Amy is now reporting on Code Sports that Ethan Stanley is now set to join the Hawks as a train-on player.

1 minute ago, Salems Lot said:

So it is the early stages of the off season and I thought a nearest the pin might be interesting. We have already seen some existing players change numbers and it got me thinking what the new players numbers will be. Complete declaration (I Have No Idea) but feel free to have a go

Currently available numbers

9,14,19,20,27,28,33,34,38,40,41,46

Berry - 40 High number for a rookie

Heath - 28 seems to be a Ruck number at the Dees

Jiath - 20 - will suit him

Matthews - 9 Smaller than Spargs hope the jumper is not too baggy

Mihocek - 41 keeps his number

Onley - 33 - looks like a 33

Pickett - 38 - near Cuz in the dressing rooms

Steele - 14 - The usual St Kilda recruit number

Taylor - 27 - Has the right frame for a big number

White - 34 - well der Fred

Re-allocated - unconfirmed

Kentfield - 19 they are talking him up, wouldn't be surprised if he moves up

You've been snookered by the club which has issued the real numbers (see above).

2026 Melbourne numbers —

1. Steven May

2. Jacob van Rooyen

3. Christian Salem

4. Harvey Langford

5. Xavier Lindsay

6. Caleb Windsor

7. Jack Viney

8. Jake Lever

9. Jack Steele

10. Daniel Turner

11. Max Gawn

12. Koltyn Tholstrup

13. Jai Culley

14. Changkuoth Jiath

15. Ed Langdon

16. Bailey Laurie

17. Jake Bowey

18. Jake Melksham 

19. Xavier Taylor

20. Thomas Matthews

21. Matt Jefferson

22. Blake Howes

23. Shane McAdam

24. Trent Rivers

25. Tom McDonald

26. Jed Adams

27. Max Heath

28. Brody Mihocek

29. Tom Campbell

30. Harry Sharp

31. Bayley Fritsch

32. Tom Sparrow

33. Latrelle Sumner-Pickett

34. Kalani White

35. Harry Petty

36. Kysaiah Pickett

37. Kade Chandler

38. Oscar Berry

39. Ricky Mentha Jnr

40. Riley Onley

42. Aidan Johnson 

43 Jack Henderson

44. Luker Kentfield

45. Andy Moniz-Wakefield

On 25/11/2025 at 12:29, Demonstone said:

What now? I think it's time to close this particular forum down for another year with our list already full.

Nah, agreed that the list is full and we're all likely to be done and dusted with our changes, but on the basis of what happened last year, we'll keep this going through the SSP, just in case ...

At least this is something ~

melbournefc.com.au

Isn't that whole area a beautiful part of the world?

Hope there were some Demonlanders out at McNamara Reserve, Myrtleford this morning to report on today's training session.

From SCOOPS All things footy 24/7 ~

List of train on opportunities at AFL clubs:

Oskar Ainsworth and Tex Wanganeen - St Kilda

Thomas Burton and Marcus Krasnadamskis - Richmond

Jaidyn Stephenson, Balyn O'Brien and Mitch Zadow - Port Adelaide

Tom McGuane - Adelaide

Chris Scerri - Fremantle

The starting order for next year’s National Draft based on 2025 finishing positions with the current points system.

This is subject to possible further amendment as it was compiled on information accumulated from various sources that still need to be cross-checked. As time progresses, we can expect plenty of changes all the way through to next year’s draft.

ROUND ONE

1 West Coast Eagles (3,000)

2 Richmond (2,481)

3 North Melbourne (2,178)

4 Essendon (1,962)

5 Melbourne (1,795)

6 Port Adelaide (1,659)

7 St Kilda (1,543)

8 Carlton (1,443)

9 Carlton (1,355) received from Sydney Swans in 2025

10 Western Bulldogs (1,276)

11 Fremantle (1,205)

12 GWS Giants (1,140)

13 Melbourne (1,080) received from Gold Coast Suns in 2025

14 Adelaide (1,024)

15 Hawthorn (973)

16 Collingwood (924)

17 Geelong (879)

18 Brisbane Lions (836)

ROUND TWO

19 West Coast Eagles (796)

20 Richmond (757)

21 Carlton (721) received from North Melbourne in 2025

22 Essendon (686)

23 GWS Giants (653) received from Gold Coast in 2025, received from Melbourne in 2025

24 Port Adelaide (621)

25 Hawthorn (590) received from West Coast in 2025, received from St Kilda in 2025

26 Port Adelaide (561) received from Carlton in 2025

27 Sydney Swans (533)

28 Western Bulldogs (505)

29 Fremantle (479)

30 Hawthorn (454) received from GWS Giants in 2025

31 Carlton (429) received from Gold Coast Suns in 2025

32 Adelaide (405)

33 St Kilda (382) received from Hawthorn in 2025

34 Collingwood (360)

35 Geelong (338)

36 Brisbane Lions (317)

ROUND THREE

37 West Coast Eagles (297)

38 Richmond (277)

39 North Melbourne (257)

40 Adelaide (238) received from Gold Coast in 2025, received from Essendon in 2025

41 Brisbane Lions (220) received from Collingwood in 2025, received from Melbourne in 2025

42 Port Adelaide (202)

43 St Kilda (184)

44 Sydney Swans (167) received from Carlton in 2025

46 West Coast Eagles (150) received from Hawthorn in 2025, received from Sydney in 2025

46 Western Bulldogs (134)

47 Fremantle (118)

48 Melbourne (102) received from GWS Giants in 2025

49 Port Adelaide (86) received from Gold Coast Suns in 2025

50 Adelaide (71)

51 Brisbane Lions (57) received from Hawthorn in 2025

52 Sydney Swans (42) received from Collingwood in 2025

53 Geelong (28)

54 Carlton (14) received from Brisbane Lions in 2025

ROUND FOUR

55 West Coast Eagles (0)

56 Richmond (0)

57 North Melbourne (0)

58 Essendon (0)

59 Hawthorn (220) received from Melbourne in 2025

60 Port Adelaide (0)

61 St Kilda (0)

62 Carlton (0)

63 Collingwood(0) received from Sydney Swans in 2025

64 West Coast Eagles (0) received from Western Bulldogs in 2025

65 Fremantle (0)

66 Collingwood (0) received from GWS Giants in 2025

67 Gold Coast Suns (0)

68 North Melbourne (0) received from Adelaide in 2025

69 Sydney Swans (0) received from Hawthorn in 2025

70 Collingwood (0)

71 Geelong (0)

72 Brisbane Lions (0)

20 minutes ago, Ollie fan said:

I remember Len Mann vaguely- wasn't he a ruckman? - but I didnt think they were related. Anyone know?

Len Mann is Hassa’s cousin, older by two years. He joined the club in 1960 and played 46 games (5 goals) through until 1964.

Fun fact: Len Mann was first ruck in his first season at the club when he played in the 1960 premiership team for Melbourne. He wore the number 34.

What a great thought. A first year player wearing the Melbourne #34 guernsey in a premiership team. Bring it on!

Now that the draft has come and gone and things appear to be settling down as the club embarks on its end-of-year campaign, is there a what now for prospective players or has the recruiting team shut up shop?

Recent history tells us that even when there are no list places available for new additions, there remains a possibility that a vacancy might occur through a long-term injury or retirement. Last year, we saw Jack Henderson and Jai Culley awarded AFL lifelines prior to the closing of the supplemental selection period window (in the latter's case, the window was reopened due to AMW's ACL injury late in the practice match against North Melbourne). Culley was originally in summer training to play for the Casey Demons.

So bring on Toby Sinnema, Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves, Tairon Ah Mu, Noah Yze and any other prospects who aspire to play at the highest level. The lifeline is still there for the taking.

On 21/11/2025 at 19:06, Dee-licious said:

Dairy News Australia

This would have to be a match made in heaven for Demonlanders.

Reading this article written ahead of the draft with its references to Demonland you would think that the author had some premonition about which club was going to draft him. Then you realise that his local club is the Shepparton United Football Netball Club, nicknamed the Demons, and the penny drops. Still, he won’t be unfamiliar with his new colours.

Another fun fact is that he trained in the preseason with Collingwood. I already had a good feeling about pinching Brody Mihocek away from them and now an impressive young gun as well 😀

The MFC list has been fully updated. The rest will be completed shortly.

I couldn’t have selected a better day to return to Melbourne following a sojourn in the north, where sunshine prevailed in stark contrast to reports of icy winds and rain at home in early November. Today, I attended a training session at Gosch’s Paddock for my first Demons’ men’s preseason training session to a pleasant surprise in the form of new recruit Xavier Taylor from the Eastern Ranges. Taylor received the customary Demon Army hug of welcome and then proceeded to demonstrate all of the skills and talent expected of an early first round draft selection.

This was the first time I had seen him in the flesh but I had followed the highlights of his stellar season through the winter in the Coates Talent League and at Victoria Metro Under 18 level. I watched him carve up the Sandringham Dragons forwards on screen in a CTL Grand Final best-on-ground performance in the Ranges’ 15-point premiership victory where he controlled the air and the ground with 25 disposals and 15 marks. He ran onto the ground today and looked and felt completely at home with some skillful manoevres that suggested he is headed for a long and successful career. Unfortunately, his fellow draftees in Latrelle Pickett and Thomas Matthews (reputedly excitement machines par excellence) weren’t yet available so I’ll have to come back for some more before the team breaks off for the end of the year.

Taylor wasn’t the only player to impress. Kozzy Pickett was in everything , showcasing his innate ability to anticipate the exact point where the ball was about to arrive. The skipper appeared comfortable as he transitioned into training after his recent overseas trip and he had a good contest with a physically imposing trainee understudy ruckman in Max Heath from the Saints. New recruits Brody Mihocek and Changkuoth Jiath (CJ) were both in partial rehab, but demonstrated that they will bring new dimensions to the team's dynamic.

I liked the look of Blake Howes who showed a fair bit of run and there’s a bit of competition among budding key forwards JvR, Matt Jefferson and Luker Kentfield. Jai Culley looks a likely improver and very impressive wearing the number 13. Bailey Laurie is working hard for one of the spots opening up in the midfield.

As training finished for the men, the women came out for their final warm up session before tomorrow’s Preliminary Final against North Melbourne. They looked keen an bouyed for the task as they kicked off with a soccer friendly.

It was time to get back to the office before watching Mitchell Starc destroy the Poms in their first innings in between the Rookie Draft where Melbourne welcomed a tall midfielder in Riley Onley along with the long-awaited arrival of Kalani White.

It’s been a great day for Demonkind!

1 hour ago, lorn said:

What Now?....Five years of rebuilding

Really?

… and that’s a wrap

AFL PRESEASON DRAFT PICK

1 Adelaide Callum Ah Che

AFL PRELISTED ROOKIE PICKS

Rookies (Category A)

Collingwood Jai Saxena

Melbourne Kalani White

Rookies (Category B)

Fremantle Toby Whan

Fremantle Ryda Luke

Geelong Jesse Mellor

GWS Giants Riley Hamilton

Sydney Swans Noah Chamberlain

Sydney Swans Liam Hetherton

AFL ROOKIE DRAFT PICKS

ROUND ONE

1 West Coast Eagles Fred Rodriguez
2. Richmond – Pass
3 Melbourne Riley Onley 
4 Port Adelaide Jack Watkins 
5 St Kilda Patrick Said 
6 Carlton – Pass
7 Sydney Swans Jake Lloyd 
8 Fremantle Leon Kickett
9 GWS Giants Conor Stone
10 Gold Coast Suns Ben Jepson 
11 Adelaide Tyler Welsh 
12 Hawthorn Ollie Greeves 
13 Geelong George Stevens 
14 Brisbane Lions Lincoln McCarthy 

ROUND TWO

15 West Coast Eagles - Pass
16 Port Adelaide – Pass
17 St Kilda – Pass
18 Sydney Swans Dane Rampe 
19 Fremantle – Pass
20 GWS Giants – Pass
21 Adelaide – Pass
22 Hawthorn – Pass
23 Geelong Keighton Matofai-Forbes 

ROUND THREE

24 West Coast Eagles – Pass
25 Port Adelaide – Pass
26 Fremantle – Pass
27 Hawthorn – Pass
28 Geelong Nick Driscoll 

ROUND FOUR

29 West Coast Eagles – Pass

* re-rookied player in bold

AFL PRESEASON DRAFT PICK

1 Adelaide Callum Ah Che

AFL PRELISTED ROOKIE PICKS

Rookies (Category A)

Collingwood Jai Saxena

Melbourne Kalani White

Rookies (Category B)

Fremantle Toby Whan

Fremantle Ryda Luke

Geelong Jesse Mellor

GWS Giants Riley Hamilton

Sydney Swans Noah Chamberlain

Sydney Swans Liam Hetherton

AFL ROOKIE DRAFT PICKS

ROUND ONE

1 West Coast Eagles Fred Rodriguez
2. Richmond – Pass
3 Melbourne Riley Onley 
4 Port Adelaide Jack Watkins 
5 St Kilda Patrick Said 
6 Carlton – Pass
7 Sydney Swans Jake Lloyd 
8 Fremantle Leon Kickett
9 GWS Giants Conor Stone
10 Gold Coast Suns Ben Jepson 
11 Adelaide Tyler Welsh 
12 Hawthorn Ollie Greeves 
13 Geelong George Stevens 
14 Brisbane Lions Lincoln McCarthy 

ROUND TWO

15 West Coast Eagles - Pass
16 Port Adelaide – Pass
17 St Kilda – Pass
18 Sydney Swans Dane Rampe 
19 Fremantle – Pass
20 GWS Giants – Pass
21 Adelaide – Pass
22 Hawthorn – Pass
23 Geelong Keighton Matofai-Forbes 

ROUND THREE

24 West Coast Eagles – Pass
25 Port Adelaide – Pass
26 Fremantle – Pass
27 Hawthorn – Pass
28 Geelong Nick Driscoll 

ROUND FOUR

29 West Coast Eagles – Pass

* re-rookied player in bold

3 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

I think the Rookie Draft partially coincides with the lunch break in the first test so we can still multitask and focus on both sports.

Apologies - the rookie draft was over before the luncheon interval in the First Test in Perth.

The good news is that we took a wicket at around the time we selected Riley Onley.

Well done to our list management team!