WITH the 2024 Toyota AFL Season fast approaching, Melbourne’s AFL program is ramping up its pre-season work in preparation for Round 1.

As the Dees’ opening game is now just three months away, the club’s AFL High Performance Manager Selwyn Griffith has sat down to talk all things performance.

Griffith firstly provided an update on the side's skipper Max Gawn who has been sidelined for a short stint due to a throat injury. 

“Max sustained a fractured larynx following a hit to the throat during training this week," Griffith said. 

“As part of his recovery, Max won’t be able to exercise for the next two weeks, followed by a period of non-contact training for an additional four weeks.

“Despite the setback, Max is recovering well and remains in good spirits.”

Touching on free agent and trade acquisitions Tom Campbell and Harry Sharp, Griffith was pleased with the seamless transition of the two into Melbourne's program. 

“Tom and Harry started off in a modified setting initially, coming into a new program,” Griffith said. 

“Both have now integrated into full training and are thriving in the current program.”

Draftee Xavier Lindsay came to the Dees with an existing knee injury that he sustained during the Coates Talent League but is looking close to integrating into the main group.

Griffith praised the young Demon for his maturity in fast-tracking his rehab while in the new environment at Melbourne.

“Xavier had sustained a PCL injury at the end of his season,” Griffith said. 

“He came into our program with a good level of strength but hadn't done a huge amount of running.

“We've had him in the re-conditioning environment, and he's just gone from strength to strength.

He's really shown his diligence and professionalism, and that's allowed him to integrate into training as of last week, in some modified drills.

“He'll go into the Christmas break on the draftee program, which will be unrestricted, and we’ll look to integrate him into full training shortly after returning from that Christmas break.”

Experienced Demons Christian Salem and Bayley Fritsch spent their off-season in similar fashions, undergoing minor surgeries and entering into rehab alongside one another.

“Christian and Bayley both had arthroscopes at the end of the season,” Griffith said.

“They've done a fantastic job over the off-season and both have integrated into full training now, and coping really well with that.”

Defender Jake Lever also underwent an arthroscope, in addition to shoulder surgery. The 28-year-old is tracking well and will enter into his final month of rehab prior to the 2025 season.
 
“Jake had a knee arthroscope and shoulder surgery in the off-season,” Griffith said.

“He’s non-contact from a shoulder perspective as we ensure the range and strength is adequate before his integration.

“His knee is going really well and he's started to get some good running loads up.

“He'll still be in a modified environment once we return from Christmas, more so from the shoulder perspective as we build his tolerance to contact training.

“We expect that Jake will be full training, by the end of January.”

In some positive news for Demon Charlie Spargo, the 25-year-old is eyeing off a long-awaited return to full training in the new year.

Spargo had been sidelined for most of 2024 with an Achilles injury, restricting him to just one game for the duration of the season.  

“Charlie obviously had that really frustrating year from an Achilles perspective, but he's done an awesome job over the off-season and since he’s come back,” Griffith said.

“He's now integrated into skills with the group and is building his conditioning volume.

“Our aim is to integrate him into an individualised Christmas program, with the plan for him to return to full training post-Christmas.”

Melbourne’s AFL program will return from the Christmas break on Thursday 9th January, their first day of 2025 at Casey Fields.