Melbourne goal sneak Jeff Garlett is working closely his Demons teammate Dion Johnstone during an off-season visit to the south-west.

The pair box together at Rodney ‘Rudy’ Ryan’s Warrnambool gym and have running sessions at Brauerander Park.

Garlett, who is spending a chuck of his off-season in the south-west, said he hoped to play alongside North Warrnambool Eagles export Johnstone in the Demons’ forward line in 2018.

He said working together during the break would help “create that bond and make it even stronger”.

“We’ve been training together and I will be training with him closely when we get back into pre-season and with the other small forwards so they can develop,” Garlett said.

“We’ll lean on each other to get better. They’re going to push me as well.”

Garlett, 28, said Johnstone’s aggression and speed were his greatest assets.

The 167-game AFL player, who booted 42 goals and made the All-Australian 40-player squad in 2017, said those traits were integral to playing a small forward role at the elite level.

Training is a big focus during Garlett’s stay in Warrnambool.

But he’s also spending time in Heywood with son Nason, 5, and visiting schools, such as Emmanuel College, as a guest speaker and running clinics.

Garlett said his connection to Warrnambool stemmed back to his time at Carlton – the club which launched his AFL career.

“I have known Rudy coming on 10 years,” he said.

“He was the boxing coach there (at the Blues). I got to know him pretty well and every time I come this way I train with him.

“I enjoy it and there’s a bunch of good people down here. (I get to) mingle and get to know young kids who come in here as well.

“There’s a young fella who always comes in and gets excited and I do a bit of work with him as well.

“They love the boxing and I love doing it as well. I help motivate as well by showing how hard you have to work to get where you want to go.”

Garlett hopes boxing twice a day and running three times a week with Johnstone, who will start his second pre-season on November 6, will ensure he returns to the Demons on November 20 prepared.

“I couldn’t be more grateful for Rudy and (wife) Hannah for letting me come down here all the time,” he said.

“Hannah does an amazing job with all the healthy cooking food. Rudy’s been awesome. He’s like and older brother or dad to me. He looks after me pretty well.”