Melbourne is hoping Gold Coast's demise continues in a bid to secure a much higher pick in the 2026 AFL draft.
The Demons and Suns engaged in a trade last year, sending Christian Petracca to the sunshine state for a litany of selections, including Gold Coast's future first-round pick.
As it stands, Melbourne holds Pick 8 (courtesy of the Suns) and their own Pick 12, following their surprise resurgence. Ultimately, in the pre-season, the selections would've ranked similar to where they stand now, albeit flipped given Gold Coast's likely premiership contention and the Demons suspected to remain in the bottom rungs of the ladder.
Demons coach Steven King was asked about the club's top picks, and what they'd do with them.
“We've got two first round picks this year, so that's an option for us to get better, looking at free agents as another avenue and then there's uncontracted players as well," King said earlier this week.
“I'm really confident with the group of players that we have, getting more exposure in games, and that's where our true growth growth will come from.
“But anywhere we can target specific needs, we'd be crazy not to look at that. Everything's on the table.
“It'd have to be an unbelievable deal for the club to part with those (first-round picks), but for the right circumstances, you'd have to look at everything.”
Carlton is keeping a close eye on the Suns' struggles, with its second-round pick (currently Pick 26) linked to Damien Hardwick's performance.
The Blues also hold Sydney's first-round selection, and is expected to be in the high teens, although there is Geelong, Hawthorn and Brisbane chasing the second spot on the ladder.
Hawthorn's shrewd business with GWS and St Kilda may have carved out another assault on the draft, or trade.
Aside from their top selection, the Hawks hold the Giant and Saints' second-round picks, which currently stand at Picks 23 and 24.
Those picks could be used in negotiations to help lure Gold Coast's Ben King or Bailey Humphrey. Both will require a trade given King is a restricted free agent, and the Suns are tipped to match any bid, while Humphrey is contracted until the end of 2028.
If those moves fail, the Hawks are well into Essendon's Zach Merrett once again, and although they put forward three first-round picks last year, that deal would be considerably less at the end of this year.
As for GWS, they were hoping Melbourne's slide would be greater this season, attaining their second-round pick. It is currently Pick 30, and could get worse if the Demons keep winning.
SEE MORE: 2026 AFL Draft Order
2026 DRAFT PICK MOVEMENTS
| IN | OUT | |
| Adelaide | third-round pick (ESS) | fourth-round pick (NM) |
| Brisbane | third-round pick (HAW) third-round pick (MELB) | third-round pick (CARL) |
| Carlton | first-round pick (SYD) second-round pick (GC) second-round pick (NM) third-round pick (BL) |
second-round pick (PORT) third-round pick (SYD) |
| Collingwood | fourth-round pick (GWS) fourth round-pick (SYD) |
third-round pick (SYD) |
| Essendon | third-round pick (ADE) | |
| Fremantle | ||
| Geelong | ||
| Gold Coast | first-round pick (MELB) second-round pick (CARL) third-round pick (PORT) |
|
| GWS | second-round pick (MELB) | second-round pick (HAW) third-round pick (MELB) fourth-round pick (COLL) |
| Hawthorn | second-round pick (GWS) second-round pick (STK) fourth-round pick (MELB) |
third-round pick (BL) fourth-round pick (SYD) |
| Melbourne | first-round pick (GC) third-round pick (GWS) |
second-round pick (GWS) third-round pick (BL) fourth-round pick (HAW) |
|
North Melbourne
|
fourth-round pick (ADE) | second-round pick (CARL) |
| Port Adelaide | second-round pick (CARL) third-round pick (GC) |
|
| Richmond | ||
| St Kilda | second-round pick (HAW) | |
| Sydney | third-round pick (CARL) third-round pick (COLL) fourth-round pick (HAW) |
first-round pick (CARL) third-round pick (WCE) fourth-round pick (COLL) |
| West Coast | third-round pick (SYD) fourth-round pick (WB) |
|
| fourth-round pick (WCE) |
