Melbourne 2016 pre-season

[Barra13]

MELBOURNE has suffered a pre-season injury blow with midfielder Ben Newton to be sidelined until February after undergoing ankle surgery.

Newton, who played 11 games for the Demons in 2015 after being picked up as a delisted free agent from Port Adelaide, injured a tendon in his ankle while training in the off-season before the players officially returned for pre-season.

"Ben will be out for a while," Mahoney told AFL.com.au.

"He hurt a tendon in his ankle prior to starting with the group.

"He had an operation on his ankle two weeks ago and he is the one player who won't do much training prior to Christmas."

Newton began 2015 in the senior team but was shunted in and out of the side throughout the season, with a concussion in the middle part of the year hampering his efforts to establish himself in Paul Roos' side.

It is disappointing news for the 23-year-old who was training diligently in the off-season in a bid to improve his endurance base.

Mahoney said the club would closely monitor Newton's rate of recovery before deciding whether to have him up and running by round one.

But given Newton â€" who is contracted until the end of the season â€" will be out of training until February, it appears unlikely he will be ready to play by the start of the season in late March.

In better news for the Demons, captain Nathan Jones is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a serious neck injury.

Skipper left pain-free after neck surgery

Jones had an operation on a prolapsed disc in his neck at the start of September.

The skipper is yet to join his teammates in full training but trained strongly at Gosch's Paddock on Friday morning as he continues to increase his workload.

"He's ahead of where we thought he'd be at this stage but we've still got a bit of time to get him right," Mahoney said.

"We'd expect him to be ready to go by the start of the AFL season."

Heritier Lumumba is also progressing as expected in his rehabilitation program after having post-season surgery on both of his ankles.

The Demons expect Lumumba to join in full training after the Christmas break.

[quinny88]

Any news on how Trengove is tracking?

[Barra13]

Last week was the last update I have heard and is running at about 80%. No kicking or anything yet. I think they are giving it plenty of time and slowly easing in. He is very conditioned at the moment, has not lost any strength in the body.

[Purple 77]

Newton injury sucks, but someone has to be injured I suppose. Better him than someone more... precious.

[quinny88]

Last week was the last update I have heard and is running at about 80%. No kicking or anything yet. I think they are giving it plenty of time and slowly easing in. He is very conditioned at the moment, has not lost any strength in the body.

So on track to play round 1?

[Big Mac]

Last week was the last update I have heard and is running at about 80%. No kicking or anything yet. I think they are giving it plenty of time and slowly easing in. He is very conditioned at the moment, has not lost any strength in the body.

So on track to play round 1?

Wouldn't have thought so

Too long out of the game I think, he would have to really dominate the NAB

[Barra13]

I believe he would be right for Round 1. Whether he gets picked might be something else. May have a couple of VFL games first I think. Has been a while for him.

[Barra13]

Dropped in For 20 minutes on my way home.

I walked in on the end of an end to end drill that culminated in Pedersen out marking Hogan. He looked displeased, the drill finished and he jokingly jogged over and tagged Petracca, implying that he wanted him on his team next run. Drill over running on.

Newbies looking a little lost, having shoots at goal. Weideman looks like he'll be a second year prospect. Not enough size to him to compete with the monsters. I think it was Hullett who was with him and King (newbie). Hullett seem ready physically, mentally and was slotting them soundly. He won't win second prize in a beauty contest but, looks to be a pretty good contested mark.

Melksham seems to be fitting I well, nice kick and vision. Didn't see enough of Kennedy, but, looks the part. Every time Petracca touches the ball, I notice a lot of glances over the shoulder from team mates. Was in the non contact vest, but, the boys were constantly calling him out and sliding one his way for a shot on goal. Love seeing Gawn and Kent develop such a good bond.  Look forward to seeing that blossom this season.

[Purple 77]

I've heard a few good reports about Smells Ham now.

[Barra13]

Apologies for delay in getting to this, but I did pop into training for about half an hour before work and like others, was absolutely rapt with the quality, variety and intensity of their work at this stage.

They did seem to be doing more clearance/tackling work than last year and there was also groups practising the old set play of a handball give and release to a player who then kicked long to a target. Petrraca, Hoges and King were the recipients of the passes - ie: they are being set to play as forwards. Salem was clearly the most lethal of the guys releasing it to them.

The newcomers are still being carefully managed so spent most of their time cycling.

Brayshaw is doing one-direction fitness running work, so I suspect he has had a bit of the old OP - which could also explain why he faded out a bit last year after the Geelong game. Jonesy is now getting close to full work - he's even doing some marking on a lead work. Dom Tyson was also being managed a bit as was Jake Spencer.

Obviously it depends on where you end up standing, but I had a really close look at the tackling/clearance work group and the highlight was when Viney was tackled by a short guy and was unable to break free - that's no mean feet to achieve given Jack's strength for his size. When they got up off the ground I was gobsmacked who it was - little Billy Stretch is now little, really strong Billy Stretch. He has bulked up in a big way and a little later he broke clear of a chasing group and snagged a left foot goal on the run.

Overall our standard is just way, way better than three years ago and almost every player looked dangerous at times. We will be heaps more competitive this year. 

[Big Mac]

Interesting to see if Billy can cement a spot on the wing this year

[T Dog]

Any news on Sam Frost.? Looking for a POD  ;)

[Barra13]

Not much other than looking huge.

[T Dog]

Thanks Barra. Thats not the kid I had in my minds eye. Weights at rehab   :o

[Ricochet]

Drawing Dicks on the Herald Sun would have a field day on those veiny arms