Track watch: Demons recruit puts best foot forward, Swans sweat it up in ‘toughest day of the year’

One of the Demon’s new recruits has shone early on in the preseason as concerns still linger over the health of Melbourne’s tall timber. Meanwhile, the Swans have sweated it out on the “toughest day of the year”.

Demon new recruits Koltyn Tholstrup, Caleb Windsor and Kynan Brown (L to R) at there first day one of pre-season training with the Melbourne Demons. Picture Melbourne FC

Melbourne’s draftees in Caleb Windsor and Koltyn Tholstrup have both hit the track for their first AFL pre-seasons, but new veterans in former Demon Marty Hore and ex-Saint Jack Billings who will be worth watching over summer.

Billings hit up teammates including full forward Brown with impressive foot skills in match drills to show exactly why the Demons traded for the left-footer.

Hore was the VFL’s best interceptor in the past two seasons and could get early games with Harrison Petty playing forward and Smith potentially suspended.

Tom McDonald and Adam Tomlinson will both be pushing for that third defensive spot behind May and Jake Lever, who was impressive pushing McDonald in their 2km time trial.

Ex-Lions tall Tom Fullarton also ran well as he prepares to back up Gawn in the ruck.

Melbourne is hopeful swingman Harrison Petty will be ready to line up for Melbourne in round one 2024 after offseason surgery. Picture: Michael Klein.

Melbourne is confident Harry Petty will be in full training well before round 1 as he recovers from a serious lisfranc injury that ended his 2023 season.

Petty, keen to return to Adelaide but not released by the Demons, will play as a key forward alongside Jacob Van Rooyen.

Van Rooyen and ex-Crows forward Shane McAdam were both at the forefront as the Demons slotted straight into mid-forward connection drills.

The Demons failed miserably to capitalise on their welter of inside 50s as they lost in straight sets for the second season in a row.

Fritsch was on light duties after his foot issues of 2023 which included a mid-season fractured foot and then toe ligament injury which he endured through finals.

Kysaiah Pickett ran the time trial but then did run-throughs instead of training with the main group he battles some low-level groin soreness.

Jake Melksham is ahead of schedule in his early recovery from an ACL tear but will only be back late next season.

BRAYSHAW GIVEN ALL-CLEAR

Melbourne midfield star Angus Brayshaw has been given formal approval to continue his AFL career as he made an impressive return to pre-season training on Monday.

Brayshaw was knocked out in the Demons’ qualifying final loss to Collingwood in one of the most dramatic moments of the season, with good friend Brayden Maynard ultimately cleared by the AFL appeals board.

Brayshaw’s brother said in the immediate aftermath he would consider his football future but as his symptoms cleared Demons mid Angus was always determined to continue his AFL career.

On Monday as the Demons senior players returned to training with a 2km time trial Brayshaw ran impressively in baking Melbourne heat then joined his teammates in training.

The fluro yellow hat which indicated he was not yet allowed contact was the only indication that Brayshaw would be treated differently to his teammates.

The Demons have ticked every medical box and had his return approved by the AFL, which means a player contracted to 2028 will have ambitious plans to play a full 2024 season.

Melbourne’s players broke up into smaller groups for that 2km time trial and Charlie Spargo, who played only 14 senior games this year, set a withering pace.

He led home Jack Viney, Brayshaw and Lachie Hunter in one group, while Adam Tomlinson burnt off hard-running Alex Neal-Bullen in the battle of the club’s best runners.

Ben Brown was limited to only seven AFL games given knee issues in 2023 but ran freely as he pushed Steven May hard and was excellent in match simulation as he enters the final season of his contract.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - August 18, 2023. AFL . Clayton Oliver of the Demons breaks away from Sam Walsh of the Blues during the semi final match between Melbourne and Carlton at the MCG in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Michael Klein.

TRAINING NOTES

Melbourne star Clayton Oliver will be held back from full training until mid-January as he continues to rehabilitate his knee after off-season surgery.

The Demons had said Oliver was four weeks from integrating into full training but the expectation is that the Demons medicos will treat his return date with caution.

Melbourne has few issues with his physical conditioning as he ran sprints, kicked the football to fellow rehab group member Bayley Fritsch and did some light touch work.

And while he will be footy’s most scrutinised man this off-season Melbourne is also optimistic he has made gains away from football with his personal issues.

Coach Simon Goodwin recently admitted Oliver’s complicated personal challenges “have been ongoing for multiple years”.

He was admitted to hospital after a seizure the Demons star said was partly attributed to ADHD medication.

The Demons also have swingman Joel Smith awaiting a date from Sports Integrity Australia for a hearing date over his match-day cocaine positive.

Smith has accepted a provisional suspension and is unable to train with the Demons but will face a short SIA ban as well as a likely Demons internal suspension.

Fresh faces Koltyn Tholstrup, Caleb Windsor and Kynan Brown at their first day one of pre-season training with the Demons. Picture: Melbourne FC

SWANS GET THROUGH ‘TOUGHEST DAY OF THE YEAR’

As Swans players walked away from Moore Park’s Bat & Ball Oval, they all had a similar message: ‘Thank god the toughest day of the year is over’.

Sydney’s players were put through their paces on the first day of pre-season with an intensive session after a 2km time trial.

Match simulations were followed by 80-metre sprints before shuttle runs had the lactic acid, and other fluids, flowing.

The majority of Sydney players took to the track, including all four of their new recruits. The noticeable absentees included Callum Mills, Luke Parker, Joel Amartey and Will Hayward who were all on separate programs.

Hayden McLean impressed in the Swans’ first full day back on the track. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Hayden McLean was a standout on day one as he looks to build on his breakout year. The ruck/forward’s endurance was on full display, outshining many of his smaller teammates for work rate in the shuttle runs.

Errol Gulden and Chad Warner’s gut-running caught the eye, but they were matched by Angus Sheldrick who appears set to have a flying start to the 2024 campaign.

Sam Reid was back training at full pelt as he hopes to win back his spot in Sydney’s 22, but that will be no easy task with the number of talls at their disposal.

One of those talls is Peter Ladhams who struggled to get close to the AFL side in the back half of 2023 due to injury. The 25-year-old’s fitness looked as good as it’s ever been since joining the Swans and he appeared to be moving more freely.

Will Green looks primed to be the Swans’ ruckman for the future. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Several players will be pushing for debuts in round one, with Caiden Cleary and Jacob Konstanty the potential front runners after Monday. The teenagers are set to benefit from time in the VFL system and didn’t look out of place in their first full session for the season.

Will Green also moved around well and his fitness appears to be at a great standard for the start of pre-season. While he might not have an immediate impact at the Swans with other players in front of him, once he adds more weight to his frame, he appears to have all the tools to set him up for success.

Robbie Fox finishes out in front for the Swans’ 2km time trial. Picture: Phil Hillyard

THE QUICK FOX TAKES OUT TIME TRIAL

Robbie Fox has reclaimed his place as the Swans’ best distance runner.

The 30-year-old defender comfortably took out Sydney’s two-kilometre time trial on Monday morning at Centennial Park.

Fox also finished first ahead of the 2019, 2021 and 2022 pre-seasons with his endurance shining through again.

Academy young gun Caiden Cleary finished a few seconds behind Fox, building on his impressive top-five finish in this year’s AFL Draft Combine.

Justin McInerney rounded out the podium while club champion Errol Gulden secured another top-five finish.

The McVeigh brothers have linked up as part of Sydney’s new-look coaching panel. Picture: Phil Hillyard

ALL EYES ON THE FRESH COACHES

While the Swans turned out to be one of the biggest movers in the trade period, they also made several changes when it came to their coaching roster.

Leon Cameron has been on deck at Bat & Bat Field to run his eye over the squad in his new role as general manager of footy.

The former Giants head coach has wasted no time getting down to business, despite not officially starting his new role until January 1.

There has also been a family reunion with Mark McVeigh linking up with brother Jarrad in his new role as assistant coach. Both McVeigh and Cameron spent the year working with the Swans’ Academy, while McVeigh was also in charge for the Allies’ remarkable under-18 National Championships triumph.

And recent retiree Paddy McCartin was still there to lend a hand as he transitions to life after footy. He was an eager participant in training, particularly engaging with his brother, Tom, and other defenders with some one-on-one drills even after the session had finished.