News
The third year defender has earned his breakthrough call-up
MELBOURNE has named a second debutant in as many weeks, with key defender Jed Adams named as the next Demon to earn his senior call-up.
The 196cm Western Australian has had to earn it the hard way, making 51 appearances for the Casey Demons since being taken with selection No. 38 in the 2022 draft.
The 21-year-old admits he had to learn to get serious after arriving at the club, leaning on some senior Demons to show him the ropes.
“When I first got to the club it was a bit dicey at the start,” Adams said.
“Coming in a bit of a larrikin, it took me a while to get used to the professionalism. After I got that sorted, it was just knuckling down, getting ready to play AFL.
“I was kind of looking just to have a laugh instead of cracking on to training. I think moving in with Petts and Chin (Harry Petty and Kade Chandler) in the first year, they definitely helped me a lot with that.
“After moving out, Mayzy took me under his wing and he’s definitely taught me a lot.”
With potential to swing between both ends of the ground, Adams is a strong aerial presence and at 21-years-of-age has built his frame to compete with strongest key forwards.
“It’s always a long grind in the gym, especially for us long lever boys,” Adams said.
“The gym is a place where I’m always looking to push myself, get the best out of myself. I’m always looking to compete against the other boys trying to move more than them.”
Adams spent his early days in Kalgoorlie before his family moved to Mandurah, where the young Demon made his first appearance with the senior side during this year’s pre-season.
The second time he runs out in front of his family in red and blue will be just as exciting.
“I called my mum and she’s crying in the middle of a shopping centre, it just shows how much it means to them.
“I’m just happy to give back to them after raising me, giving me a good childhood and I’m just happy to make them proud.”