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The Demon stalwart surpassed the number of his father's appearances for the club towards the end of the season. As he approaches his thirties, his pace is inevitably slowing, and he is likely to explore alternative opportunities beyond the team's midfield.

The Demon premiership defender who has the reputation the master of intercept possessions as well as great leadership qualities managed only eight senior games this season as he battled injury and form, prompting speculation that he might be enticed to look elsewhere.

“Disco” took his time (four seasons) but the mid-season draftee has been a shining light of Melbourne's campaign, improving to become a versatile option at either end of the ground. He has great marking skills which allows him to play as a marking target up forward or an intercepting defender down back. 

The skipper delivered another outstanding season, leading the team from the front, participating in every game, and earning club champion honours, while also securing an equal record eighth All-Australian blazer as a ruckman.  Max Gawn is arguably the greatest exponent of ruck skills in the history of the game; an exceptional leader who has guided the club to a premiership, through the challenging times that followed, and now into the next phase of its storied history.

It was a frustrating season for the former number 13 draft selection, who failed to build momentum in his second campaign; Tholstrup played only nine games, having been omitted twice and substituted out three times. However, he demonstrated promising signs in the midfield at Casey towards the end of the season, and big things are anticipated from him in the coming years.

Clayton Oliver, a four-time best and fairest winner at the club, has navigated a challenging period over the past two years, marked by injuries and personal issues, but has demonstrated promising signs suggesting a return to his optimal form in 2025. He is presently contracted to the club for an additional five years, with a substantial annual salary of approximately $1.7 million in the final seasons of his agreement. All at Melbourne are eagerly anticipating his resurgence to his previous peak performance levels.

Langdon showcased his versatility when he was asked to leave his customary wing position at times to undertake midfield and tagging roles. A consistent performer at the Demons, he’s contracted for three more years.

Jake Bowey experienced a breakout season as Melbourne's primary ball handler operating off half back. As a skilled distributor of the football, he deserved the recognition he received for his invaluable contribution to the team cause.

Melksham has shown great resilience since his ACL injury in late 2023 and ended the season with a career-high goals tally of 33 goals including an impressive purple patch in mid year. He was rewarded with a new contract for 2026.

The tall, powerful early first-round draft pick from 2024, Langford had a remarkable debut season in both the midfield and playing up forward in patches. He finished fourth in the Rising Star Award. The youngster is viewed as a long-term, blue-chip midfielder with an exceptional future.

Melbourne made a strategic move prior to last year’s draft to get a second top 10 pick and ended up securing the classy ball handler capable of playing off half-back, on a wing, and potentially in the midfield. Lindsay’s silky smooth form in his debut season justified the recruiting team’s rationale in forfeiting a major part of their 2025 draft hand to acquire him. It was a big win for the club.

Jefferson was uncapped in his first two seasons at Melbourne but finally made his AFL debut in the opening round of the season and scored a goal with his first kick. However, it was not all smooth sailing for young tall forward who gravitated during the year between the senior team and Casey where he mixed a couple a couple of promising five goal bags with some quieter days.

The medium-sized defender has good athleticism and showed good improvement during the season without fully cementing his place in the senior team.

The dashing premiership defender continued to adapt to the occasional role as a midfielder where he enjoyed some success with his strong running and long kicking.

The veteran Demon might be slowing down a little, but his wealth of experience frequently proved invaluable, and he became the cornerstone of the team's defensive unit, particularly during the latter half of the season. Ultimately, he played more games as a key defender than Steven May and Jake Lever, the players for whom he was initially the backup. Consequently, McDonald was rewarded with a one-year contract extension.

Adams persevered over three seasons with the Casey Demons, achieving notable progress as a key defender at VFL level this year to earn a senior debut late in the season. Although he didn’t set the world on fire, he put in a commendable performance against star Bulldog key forwards, which bodes well for his future prospects.

The forecast said wind. The ladder said mismatch. The scoreboard said obliteration. Melbourne didn’t just beat Gold Coast — they dismantled them: 13.15 (93) to 0.6 (6). An 87-point obliteration, the Suns held goalless, and the Demons delivering their second-highest winning margin and third-highest score in AFLW history.

It was a tough ask for him to break through as a 199cm ruckman in the shadow of an all-time great in that position who is also the club captain. He had some good days at Casey but was unable to progress and was delisted at the end of the season.

The 33-year-old Campbell has yet to play AFL football for Melbourne, but his Casey form has been strong and he has been retained as a ready-made ruck depth option who is widely regarded as someone who is excellent for the culture of the club.

The Demons acquired an interesting player in Sharp, who narrowly missed securing a spot in the Lions’ premiership team last year. The 22-year-old medium forward played in the opening round this season and ended up with 18 senior games, although he was substituted in or out in for ten of those matches. He demonstrated glimpses of form, but ultimately ended the year on the margins of the team.

Worked his way back after a slow start and a further slump in form going into the midseason but became a solid contributor for the club in the latter half of 2025. Closing in on 300 goals for the club.

On Friday, the Demons return to our Casey Fields fortress where they have a 77% win rate. The scent of September is in the air and the struggling Suns are on the horizon. The Cranbourne weather forecast? Ominous, like the match itself: a strong chance of carnage. Let’s be honest, last week’s first half against the West Coast was a training drill but we dropped our guard in the final quarter. While this match is a mismatch on paper — second versus seventeenth — football is won in the wind, the contests, and the moments.

The rugged Sparrow’s career appears to have plateaued in recent years. He makes the side on a week to week basis but he is unable to establish a foothold in the team’s midfield and arguably performs best outside of the contest in a forward position without being a goal kicker. He remains a good honest foot soldier but is not a star.

Fullarton managed a couple of games in the first half of the season but soon found himself back in the VFL. There, he found a niche at centre half back but it was not enough to retain a place on the list at season’s end.

Entering 2025, it looked as if Petty would be secured in a defensive position, but plans shifted and he spent more time forward, averaging just over a goal per game throughout the season. It remains uncertain which area of the ground he will be expected to cover under the new coaching regime.