To be fair, the sweat running down his brow is from the fierce Alexandra sun, and not the fact he is about to begin a second intense year as head coach of his beloved club.
The Highlanders are bonding and building in Central Otago ahead of their first preseason game against Moana Pasifika in Queenstown on Friday evening.
It is a time to forge relationships, develop combinations, finalise strategies and generally put some blocks in place for what shapes as a challenging season, and Dermody is pleased with how everything is tracking.
"I guess the first one is the chance to pretty much live together as a group and get to understand our team-mates a little bit more.
"It’s giving us that time to have conversations around the game we’re trying to put in place as well."
The Highlanders are also pressing the flesh — selfies, autographs, barbecues with fans, the works — as they seek to rally the community behind them.
"It’s always cool for the boys to do that. Rugby players can get in a wee bubble where it’s all about performance, but it’s neat to see the effect that their interactions can have on the public."
Spirits are high, naturally.
The weather is good and the Highlanders are unbeaten and that smell in the air is the promise of glory.
Dermody is a realist, and knows the weeks ahead are going to be tough, but he is getting a good feeling about the environment.
"It’s been a really productive six weeks for us, and now it culminates in a game, because it feels like the boys are ready to play.
"The guys who have been added to the squad this year, whether they’re young or they’re arriving from other teams or other countries, have really contributed to the team culture and environment."
Nobody remembers the score of a preseason game.
These summer clashes are often fun — and the packed house in Queenstown should see plenty of tries — but they can also be useful in finalising how a starting team for week one will shape.
"Moana Pasifika is going to be a good challenge for us," Dermody said.
"We’ve got some things we’ve been focusing on around changes to our game from last year, so we’ve got an eye on what we want to get out of the game.
"Winning’s always cool. There’s that element of performance. But it’s more about putting in place what we’ve been working on, and most of the squad will get a good run."
All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot remains on light duties but will play in the third preseason game, against the Crusaders in Methven.
His mini-me, Otago prop Rohan Wingham, was buzzing after being elevated to a full Highlanders contract, Dermody said.
"He’s been a sponge so far.
"Rohan’s a local product — King’s High School, plays for Dunedin — and he had a standout Otago season in the NPC as a young prop.
"He’s playing loosehead this week, covering while Ethan is still away, but he has the ability to play both sides, which is an important string for a prop."
The Highlanders have still not named a captain for the season.
There is no reason to believe the widely respected Billy Harmon will not wear the armband, but it may be the club surrounds him with a beefed-up leadership team.
Experienced locks Will Tucker and Mitch Dunshea are still on track to return from injury in a couple of months, and midfielder Josh Timu is due back in March.
