MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 14: Max Gawn of the Demons runs during a Melbourne Demons training session at Gosch's Paddock on December 14, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Martin Keep/AFL Photos for AFL Photos)
Honeyball takes a look at the best 23 for Melbourne ahead of the 2026 AFL season, noting ins and outs, key injuries, plus a look at relevant AFL Fantasy and SuperCoach players.
We’ve used quotes from Demons coach Steven King to offer additional insight on relevant players.
Ins: Oscar Berry (Category B rookie), Max Heath (trade, St Kilda), Changkuoth Jiath (trade, Hawthorn), Thomas Matthews (No.30 draft pick), Brody Mihocek (trade, Collingwood), Riley Onley (Rookie Draft), Latrelle Pickett (No.12 draft pick), Jack Steele (trade, St Kilda), Xavier Taylor (No.11 draft pick), Kalani White (Category A rookie, father-son)
Outs: Jack Billings (delisted), Kynan Brown (delisted), Tom Fullarton (delisted), Marty Hore (delisted), Judd McVee (trade, Fremantle), Clayton Oliver (trade, Greater Western Sydney), Christian Petracca (trade, Gold Coast), Oliver Sestan (delisted), Charlie Spargo (free agent, North Melbourne), Will Verrall (delisted), Taj Woewodin (delisted)
Key Injuries: Jai Culley (arm), Shane McAdam (Achilles), Jack Viney (Achilles), Jake Bowey (foot)
Likely Round One 23
B: B.Howes, J.Lever, D.Turner
HB: T.Rivers, H.Petty, C.Salem
C: E.Langdon, J.Steele, C.Windsor
HF: T.Sparrow, B.Mihocek, K.Chandler
F: L.Pickett, J.van Rooyen, B.Fritsch
Foll: M.Gawn, H.Langford, K.Pickett
I/C: T.McDonald, X.Lindsay, J.Melksham, C.Jiath, H.Sharp
Relevant Players
Kysaiah Pickett
Dees coach Steven King: “We see Kozzy as an emerging leader of our footy club. The impact he has on-field is significant, and then off-field is pretty quiet and reserved, but when he speaks, everyone listens and it’s usually spot on,”
Caleb Windsor, Max Gawn, Kalani White, Jack Steele
Latrelle Pickett
King: “His consistency over pre-season for a first-year player has been quite extraordinary… I think everyone saw his highlight package what he can do, but his athletic profile actually stacks up with the demands of the modern game: Endurance wise he came out and was top five in one of our endurance tests, which was quite extraordinary really for someone of his speed and agility.
“I think he’ll bring the best out of ‘Koz’; they’ll compete against each other and I think up the ante each time they both get the ball and push each other along as well. It’s going to be exciting to watch, I think having the two of them run around on the ‘G this year is going to be something our supporters are going to love watching.”
