CHANGES 2025: Part 4 by The Oracle

Posted Wednesday at 00:582 days

Part 4: The Brutalist’s Stocktake

Melbourne fans have long called for ruthlessness at their club, and Steven King's appointment as senior coach marked the beginning of a new era. King wasted no time in taking stock and reshaping the team. This involved making some tough decisions that put premiership superstars Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, along with champion defender Steven May on the trade table.

The narrative surrounding the trades suggested that the players were free to explore their options, but the underlying message was clear: King was resetting the club. The two midfield bulls have left. May had no takers and is staying.

For Petracca, this meant joining the Gold Coast Suns in a deal that saw Melbourne receive two first-round picks, a second-round pick, and future draft picks. The Suns gained a champion footballer, while Melbourne shed a recurring distraction and secured valuable draft capital.

Petracca's departure will be felt deeply, given his impressive record and achievements, including the premiership, a Norm Smith Medal and multiple All-Australian selections. However, as the club's new CEO Paul Guerra noted, "It's not Christian of 2021, it's Christian who's 30 years old." The deal reflects a pragmatic approach by Melbourne, prioritizing draft picks and future prospects over short-term gains.

Clayton Oliver's departure to GWS, on the other hand, raises questions about the club's culture and dynamics. The "official" narrative suggests that Oliver's role was expected to change under King's coaching style, but this didn't align with his desires. The deal saw Melbourne receive a 2026 third-round pick, with the club retaining some financial burden. The club lost a much loved premiership star, a multiple All-Australian and best and fairest winner with two prestigious AFL Coaches Association champion player of the year (2021 & 2022) awards for peanuts. 9news Melbourne reporter Tom Morris bluntly put it this way: "They've moved Clayton Oliver, because they were unsure about his character off the field …". The outcome sadly speaks for itself and all of us wish him well for a happy end to his career in a different place and a different space.

The club lost two key players: Charlie Spargo, who joined North Melbourne after 108 games, and Judd McVee, who crossed to the Dockers after 65 games, with the club receiving a second-round draft pick for each player.

The loss of Oliver and Petracca will be significant, but Melbourne has bolstered its roster with key additions, including Brody Mihocek, Jack Steele, Changkuoth Jiath, and Max Heath. These players bring a mix of leadership, specialized skills, and high standards, which will be crucial in the club's future success. The counterweight is the story of St Kilda captain Jack Steele, who the club acquired on the final day of the trade period, but more on that later. Steele joins the club with a similar price tag to that of Oliver but his story is very different and will be covered in the next chapter of this story.

As Tim Lamb, Melbourne's list manager, noted, the club's haul of draft picks will help the club challenge for high honors in the competition. With a new era underway, Melbourne fans will be eager to see how the team responds to King's coaching and the influx of new talent. It looks very much like an end to internal issues at the club and a new free flowing style with improved transition in heading goalwards.