Veteran Melbourne defender Steven May was a notable absentee from training, six weeks out from the start of the AFL season.
The 2021 premiership defender will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season.
May was a key figure in last year's trade period, but failed to find a new home.
The Demons have been contacted for comment after May was not at Wednesday morning's training session.
Off the field, May and Richmond midfielder Dion Prestia are fighting criminal charges after a late-2024 brawl in Sorrento on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.
Last month, the pair asked for the charges to be withdrawn, saying they were not there.
They are due to face Frankston Magistrates Court again on February 20.
May, 34, played 16 senior games last year for a career total of 251. He endured a mixed season, serving a three-match ban for a high bump, and also had Hawthorn veteran Jack Gunston kick a bag of seven on him.
He also had a much-scrutinised argument on the field with captain Max Gawn after the narrow King's Birthday loss to Collingwood.
May has been a regular in the Demons' best 23 for several seasons, but that is now in question.
The Demons are in major transition, with coach Simon Goodwin sacked last year and Steven King appointed for his first senior role.
Star onballers Christian Petracca (Gold Coast) and Clayton Oliver (GWS) were traded after last season.
But Gawn is typically bullish, predicting Melbourne can make the finals.
"We're confident we can go the whole way. Not one person has tipped us but that usually goes well for us," he told Triple M.
Gawn noted he made a similar prediction before 2013, when coach Mark Neeld was sacked.
