Melbourne Demons Embrace Speed as New Era Dawns Under Steven King
The Australian Football League’s opening round of 2026 has offered a clear indication: speed is set to be the ultimate weapon. For the Melbourne Demons, this shift in the game’s tempo is not just an observation, but a fundamental aspect of their evolving strategy, particularly under the guidance of their new coach, Steven King. As veteran ruckman Max Gawn explains, the team’s inherent pace makes a slow game plan virtually impossible.
“You can’t really move it slow when you’ve got two Picketts in the team,” Gawn told AAP, highlighting the electrifying presence of both Kozzy and Latrelle Pickett. “Even if Kingy wanted a slow game plan, I think with (Caleb) Windsor, (Kozzy) Pickett, (Latrelle) Pickett, Harvey Langford … it’s not really going to move slow.”
This emphasis on speed marks a significant departure from Melbourne’s premiership-winning season in 2021, a campaign defined by their dominance in contested ball, spearheaded by a formidable midfield unit featuring Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca, and Jack Viney. However, the subsequent losses in four consecutive finals across the 2022 and 2023 seasons underscored a critical deficiency: pure midfield grunt, while valuable, was no longer sufficient.
To inject the necessary pace and midfield class, the Demons strategically targeted young talent in the draft. First-round selections included the blistering speedster Caleb Windsor, the silky left-footed Xavier Lindsay, and the clearance specialist Harvey Langford. The recent addition of electric forward Latrelle Pickett has further amplified their attacking threat, with his burgeoning chemistry with his star cousin, Kozzy Pickett, proving a standout feature during pre-season training.
Gawn is confident that this infusion of youthful dynamism will be instrumental in propelling the club back up the ladder, especially in the wake of the significant midfield departures of Oliver and Petracca in October. He believes the modern AFL landscape is increasingly dictated by rapid transitions and quick ball movement, a trend reinforced by recent rule changes designed to keep the ball in play more frequently and at a faster tempo.
“I think the game going forward is going to be about speed and transition, and you can see the AFL made all these rules to make sure the ball’s in play more and it’s going quicker,” Gawn observed. “The fact that we’re not getting left behind with that, and we’re schooling ourselves up on how to move the ball quickly, I think will help us.”
A New Coaching Philosophy and a Developing Partnership
Gawn’s 17th pre-season with the Demons has been a period of profound change, largely driven by the arrival of Steven King. King has introduced a fresh perspective and a revitalised game plan, challenging Gawn’s long-held beliefs about the game.
“He’s definitely challenged me in the way I’ve thought the game should be played, and the way I think clubs should be run,” Gawn admitted.
However, the relationship between the seasoned captain and the new coach is not a one-way street. Gawn has also been proactive in engaging with King, fostering a collaborative environment.
“Although I’m always going to take Kingy’s side – he’s the coach – we’ve had some fun conversations,” Gawn shared. “There are always going to be slight teething problems, working out if I induct Kingy to the Melbourne way or does he induct me to the Kingy way.”
The pair maintain regular communication, speaking most days. Yet, Gawn acknowledges that their partnership has yet to face its true test. The upcoming round-one clash against St Kilda will serve as their inaugural significant challenge, a crucial opportunity to see how their new strategies and developing synergy hold up under pressure.
“We haven’t really had any adversity yet, to be fair,” Gawn stated. “It’s all sort of been happy and smiles for three or four months – but at some point we’re going to be down, at some point a team’s going to kick three or four goals on us. It’s weird to say this, but I’m keen to get some adversity and see how we go.” This anticipation for challenges speaks to the team’s readiness to embrace the unpredictable nature of AFL football and their commitment to learning and adapting as a unit.
