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Despite going unsigned at the pre-season list lodgement deadline, Jai Culley will make his Demon debut.
SECOND-CHANCE Demon Jai Culley has earned his red and blue debut and will pull on the boots for the club he grew up supporting, taking on his old side West Coast.
It’s a surreal moment for the 22-year-old who grew up watching the Demons at the ‘G before earning his AFL chance with the Eagles with pick no.1 in the 2022 mid-season draft.
The Demon debutant is sure to be fuelled by some extra motivation after being delisted by the Eagles following last season and battling his way onto Melbourne’s list with a gruelling pre-season trial.
It was an effort that made him the pride of generations of Culley Demons.
“Most of my family are all diehards,” Culley said.
“Dad and grandpa and my grandparents all went for the Dees. I grew up going every week to the ‘G and supporting the boys.
“It’s my dream job, my dream club I guess being here. It means absolutely a lot and not only for me, but for my family as well.”
Culley’s spot on the 2025 Melbourne list wasn’t always a given, especially when the list lodgement deadline passed ahead of Melbourne’s match simulation hit-out with North Melbourne.
The Demons had a fully finalised list lodged with the AFL when Andy Moniz-Wakefield tore his ACL on a scorching hot afternoon at Arden Street.
Melbourne applied and was granted special permission to add Culley to its list, with all other AFL sides having played their match simulations ahead of the lodgement date.
“Nothing is ever guaranteed to get a list spot,” Culley said.
“It didn’t go my way at West Coast and I had my doubts along the way.
“Things sort of fell my way and luckily enough I got a spot. I’m here now and get to face the old boys, which I’m bloody keen for.”
Culley bashed down the door of Tim Lamb’s list office with brutal stoppage work throughout his pre-season campaign, but has had to add flexibility to his game to earn his chance at AFL level.
The raw numbers didn’t jump off the page from the wing as they did during the pre-season in the midfield, but the big-bodied Demon has found his groove in recent weeks.
Culley has tallied 25 and 26 touches in his last two hit-outs, compiling a selection case too strong for the selection committee to refuse.
“The wing roles a bit new for me but having those two strings to my bow, being able to go inside and also playing the wing just makes me a bit more versatile,” Culley said.
“Hopefully I can show that to all the fans this week.”