However,it wasn’t a good day for Jones,the former skipper straining a hamstring at a closed training session. He was sent for scans,which revealed the strain as minor,and the Demons say he could return as early as next weekend.

Jones played his 300th match against Richmond in round six,and was the medical substitute a week later,but was dropped ahead of last week’s clash against Sydney.

Weideman’s return means the Demons continue to have several options,including McDonald and Ben Brown,to help skipper Max Gawn in the ruck. Gawn has spent more time drifting into defence in recent weeks,ensuring plenty of room for Bayley Fritsch (18 goals),Kysaiah Pickett (14),McDonald (13),Christian Petracca (9) and Brown (5) to work up forward.

While the Demons chase a ninth straight win,the Blues are struggling with a 3-5 win-loss record and now must contend with an elite defence. Where the Blues continue to struggle to stop opposition run-ons,having conceded three goals in a row 15 times this season,the Demons’ selfless approach to team defence and working hard without the football has been a feature of their remarkable surge.

Goodwin said this mantra had been a work in progress over three years and the players were now “cohesive” and being rewarded for their efforts.

“You see the best teams over the years defend without the ball to a really high level,” he said.