Nat Jones as CAPTAIN

It’s Pink Lady night at Princes Park — a vibey Friday evening setting for a high-stakes clash between second-placed Melbourne and eleventh-placed Essendon. The wind-sheltered IKON Park, a favourite ground of the Demon players, promises flair, fire and a touch of pink. Melbourne has never lost a home-and-away game here, though the ghosts of two straight-sets finals exits in 2023 still linger. 

All the latest on the Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver saga.

The premiership defender has shown signs of wear and tear due to age, and his 2025 season was inconsistent, ending poorly with a suspension and a noticeable decline in performance. The Demons are eager to integrate younger players onto their list and have indicated that they may not be able to guarantee him senior games next season, in what would be the final year of his contract.

The young key tall failed to make progress during the season, with a decline in his goal kicking output. His secondary role as a backup ruckman, which may have hindered his ability to further develop his game, and he was also impacted by the team's poor forward connection. It will be interesting to observe his performance under a new coaching regime.

Salem proved to be a valuable contributor as a reliable and solid one-on-one medium-sized defender in what was undoubtedly his most impressive season since the premiership year. He remains a highly capable rebounding option for the Demons as he approaches his 200th game at the club.

Following an injury-interrupted start to the season, McVee struggled to maintain the standard he established in 2025 as he pursued an expanded role within the team structure. He remained a firm fan favourite and the club had hoped to negotiate a new contract with the former rookie selection from Western Australia, whose partner, Lily Johnson, plays for Melbourne's AFLW side. Those hopes were dashed when he expressed his desire to return to his home state and play for Fremantle. Like all players who have worn the red and blue and are leaving this year, we wish him well in the future.