Demonland

Two hundred and five days have elapsed since the final siren sounded at the MCG, bringing Melbourne’s 2025 season to a close and marking the end of an era. It’s been an eternity waiting for the next chapter under Steven King. As the team takes on St Kilda, what resonates most is the opportunity for a clean slate – a chance for King to imprint his vision and for the Demons to rediscover their winning DNA. We’ve moved on from the past - away from 2001, from 2011 and even beyond 2021. It’s finally the first Gameday of 2026: The Dawn of the New Melbourne. What are you most hoping to see from the team today?

A series of meetings between the club’s hierarchy, welfare team and his manager this week has the club confident he will take on St Kilda and find a way to manage the early months of the season. Pickett flew to Darwin earlier in the week to be with his daughter Belleny after a separation from his partner in recent weeks but is expected to fly back into Melbourne on Thursday night. It would allow him to train on Friday and Saturday and then play against St Kilda at the MCG on Sunday, with all signs pointing to a debut for his housemate and cousin Latrelle. The club’s highest-paid player is on a $12.5 million deal that extends to nine seasons. The 24-year-old had been thrilled to be so close to first-round draftee Latrelle Pickett across summer and had put in a flawless summer that meant he was in career-best shape. Pickett’s manager Anthony Van Der Wielen has been in town meeting with Melbourne across the weekend and putting in place preliminary plans for the weeks and months ahead. The best-case scenario is that Pickett doesn’t miss early-season games but is able to make quick trips north before returning for the main training sessions across the week. The Demons bye is in round 16, but they do have an eight-day break after Adelaide’s Gather Round clash leading into round 6 and an eight-day break leading into round 8. Having signed a new seven-year contract extension Pickett had finally committed to spending his AFL career in Melbourne and the club’s drafting of Latrelle only solidified that view. It is a far-from-ideal lead-in to a debut game for Latrelle but the No. 12 draft selection has taken the pre-season in his stride. Coach Steven King said on Wednesday the club would work with Pickett throughout the season to help him return to Darwin when required. “Kozzie needed to get back for family reasons and I fully support any father at our club to make sure they get to support their family. It was a no-brainer for us,’ King said. “He will play (on Sunday). I want to provide flexibility for our staff and players. Family is equally or more important than a game of footy, and we can make the two coexist.” Demons captain Max Gawn said on Thursday he was confident Pickett would play against St Kilda. “I get why it’s news because he’s the best player in our team. His family is in Darwin. My family is in Malvern, so it’s easier for me. So he’s had to go back to Darwin,” Gawn said. “It’s a real mature decision from all involved, and ideally, he’s back tonight for our training session tomorrow. Nothing to see here, it’s just unlucky his family is four hours away on a flight.”

With Opening Round done and dusted, Round 1 sees the full AFL competition finally swing into action for 2026. Discuss all the games this week that do not involve the Dees, share your tips, and let us know which results would suit Demons best.

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STEVEN King says Kozzy Pickett is expected to play in the club's season-opening clash, during his first game-week press conference as head coach of the Melbourne Football Club. He shared news that star Demon Kysaiah Pickett has travelled to Darwin to deal with personal issues ahead of the club's season-opening clash with St Kilda. Kozzy Pickett "We were pretty proactive with it, Kozzy needed to get back for family reasons and I fully support any father at our club to make sure they get to support their family," King said. "Kozzy will be back tomorrow, he'll do our T2 (main training session two) and play. "That's something I want to provide flexibility for our staff and players that family is equally or more important than just the game of footy. "We'll give Kozzy all the time he needs to take care of his family and his daughter and he'll be fine. We'll work that with him throughout the season as it progresses but he'll play." MORE TO COME

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