MELBOURNE has headed up the Hume Highway to Bright for its annual community and pre-season performance camps as the full playing list returned to action.
The Demons will spend Monday and Tuesday out in the local community, visiting schools and getting in touch with the Alpine Shire locals.
Watch below for daily updates on the team's activity.
Day Five | November 28
The squad kicked off the day with a kayak through Roberts Creek, navigating the winding waterway before transitioning into a team-based ride up Mount Porepunkah.
Each team worked through a rotating system - two riders on the road at a time, with teammates cycling in and out from their van in rolling intervals. The constant interchange kept the pace high and the strategy sharp as groups pushed their way up the climb.
The morning wrapped up with a well-earned lunch at the Porepunkah Pub, bringing the teams together after one of the camp’s most collaborative sessions. Highlights from the activities will be showcased in feature videos from the camp over the coming weeks.
Day Four | November 27
The group returned to Myrtleford for another field session before heading into one of the camp’s biggest physical challenges - a 6km run through Mount Buffalo, followed by a hike to the summit.
Harry Sharp set the pace early, powering home to claim the 6km run, while Max Gawn and Ed Langdon led the group through the final stages of the hike to the summit. Jack Viney, Max Heath and several others tackled the climb on mountain bikes, meeting the squad at the top.
It capped off a demanding day on the mountain, with highlights from the activities to be showcased in feature videos from the camp over the coming weeks.
Day Three | November 26
The Bright Amazing Race was the feature of day three, as players split into six teams to race across the region and complete a number of physical tasks.
Fishing, golf and football challenges highlighted the race, as players decoded clues and piled into Hertz minivans to checkpoints around Bright.
The Stony Creek Fish Farm played host to the fishing challenge, as players battled to land the most catches within half an hour.
Aidan Johnson took an unintentional dip into the water, while Jack Henderson stripped down to dive in and pull a fish from the water with his bare hands.
Highlights of the race will be available in feature videos from the camp in the coming weeks.
Day Two | November 25
Melbourne's full class of 2025 draftees hit the track for the first time on Tuesday as the club headed to Myrtleford for the first football session of the week.
White, Onley, Taylor and Pickett all integrated into main drills, while Tom Matthews completed touch and gym work as he works his way back from a PCL injury.
Off-season recruits Brody Mihocek, Changkuoth Jiath, Jack Steele and Max Heath all integrated with their senior teammates for the first time.
The training track was followed by more school visits as the players completed their final community camp commitments.
The afternoon session involved another team meeting headed by new coach Steven King, as he outlined tactics and game style to his full list for the first time.
The players watched match and training clips as King demonstrated how he wants his Demons to look in 2026.
Day One | November 24
Players made school visits as they headed north, including trips to Longwood, Nagambie, Glenrowan, Bright, St John’s Euroa, Oxley, Wandiligong, Milawa, Avenel, Beechworth, Euroa, Benalla, Myrtleford, Harrietville, Dederang and Yackandandah Primary Schools.
It was the first official day of the job for the club’s five newest draftees Xavier Taylor, Latrelle Pickett, Tom Matthews, Riley Onley and Kalani White.
Players got hands on with the locals at an Auskick clinic in Bright, before heading into the first full-team meeting of the pre-season campaign.
Steven King addressed the playing group, speaking of his expectations and coaching style for the year ahead.
