IN 22 days time, Melbourne will travel to the SCG to open the 2024 AFL Season in a highly-anticipated clash against Sydney.

Entering opposition territory for a Thursday night battle could be a daunting feat for many but experienced Demon Alex Neal-Bullen said the group was ready to embrace the challenge.

“From our perspective, we’re very fortunate to be the first game of the 2024 season,” Neal-Bullen said.

To be in Sydney, in a hostile environment, it excites me, it excites the group, I love playing in those environments and we’ll be ready.”

The Demons will come into the new year off the back of a disappointing end to their 2023 season, bowing out of the premiership race during a semi-final loss to Carlton.

While it was devastating for both players and fans alike, a clean slate and the hunger for more is pushing the team’s mentality in the right direction ahead of 2024.

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Media Conference | Alex Neal-Bullen & Kate Hore

From Community Camp in Seymour the media speaks to Alex Neal-Bullen & Kate Hore

“It’s a feeling you never forget, it’s something that continues to drive this group, especially when you don’t have success in a finals series,” Neal-Bullen said.

I continually remind myself and the leaders within this club, that we’re in a great spot, although we’re not happy with how we ended last year, we know we’re building towards something.

“At the start of a new year, you’ve just got to look at it as the first phase of a season, which is our practice games, if we get these right, then you start the season with a high emphasis on starting well and you get the confidence up.

“From there anything can happen, you build enjoyment, confidence and the game just flows from there.”

Melbourne will get its first taste of the 2024 season this Sunday when it takes on Richmond at Casey Fields in its first inter-club match-simulation.

The Demons will put to test their months of high-intensity preparation in a seven-term game at their south-east home.

“We’re in that part of pre-season now where you’re starting to fine tune and get ready for practice games,” Neal-Bullen said.

“So, the intensity has been high from the jump, we feel like we’re highly energised and really excited for the season to start, which is this Sunday against Richmond for our first practice match.

“From my time at the footy club, it’s something we’ve really trained from the start of pre-season, so when games do start, there isn’t a massive jump in intensity.

“We believe that holds us in good stead to really start the season well this Sunday.”

For more details on Melbourne’s pre-season schedule click here.