Melbourne will add two more first-round selections this year, to make it eight across four years – a brilliant return ahead of Tasmania's entrance.
Having entered the player movement period with Picks 6 and 10, they emerge with 4 and 14, as well as two later selections.
Draft hand: 4, 14, 48, 52
Having Pick 4 means the Demons are somewhat beholden to what the clubs above them in the draft do.
There are five players who have long been viewed in the top echelon of the open draft crop: Harry Van Hattum, Arki Butler, Heath Mellody, Gus Teixeira and Ethan Drever.
But there is also the prospect they target, Mitch Harris, who has long been linked.
Their second top 15 selection comes at a nice spot, which will allow them to add another top-liner before the draft starts to really open up.
List needs
Key defender: Steven May retired ahead of 2026, and Jake Lever is in the twilight of his career. Daniel Turner had a strong season, and they selected Lukas Cooke Mid-Season, but he is unproven, so it would make sense to add someone with height who is capable of locking down. Needing to play inexperienced first-year player Xavier Taylor – who possesses promise as a rebounder – in the Wildcard Round final as a lockdown-type defender was far from ideal and highlighted their lack of depth.
Key forward: Jacob Van Rooyen needs support. Bayley Fritsch is a medium forward who can challenge opponents aerially, and they added mediums Will McLachlan and Zane Duursma in the player movement period. But someone with genuine key-position height is necessary, with Brody Mihocek likely entering his last season and Harrison Petty and the unproven Luker Kentfield the only options in reserve.
Ruck: It's time to start thinking about a genuine Max Gawn successor. Is that Max Heath? His time on ground when he has played alongside Gawn suggests there is not great faith in him despite having spent years in the system. Max Mapley was drafted Mid-Season after performing well in the ruck for Tasmania but is more of a key position player at AFL level than a ruck given his height. If the club does not think Gawn is the answer, it is imperative to get someone who is and give them time to develop before Gawn runs out of petrol tickets.
Potential targets
Mitch Harris: Melbourne has been linked to key back Mitch Harris. It would be interesting if they have traded up for Harris, given he may still have been available with their sixth selection – though trading up does make it a certainty. An athletic marking defender, he is the consensus best backman in this year's draft and would be an ideal successor to Jake Lever.
Harry Van Hattum: The other one Melbourne has been linked to with their first selection is Van Hattum. He projects as the potential Gawn successor. Richmond has also been linked to him – but would they really use the second selection in the draft on a ruck when other areas of the ground need addressing too? A mature-bodied, leaping ruck, his physical stature and confidence suggest he could come in and play earlier than most rucks who need years of development, which has put clubs off drafting teen big men in recent years.
Jack Pickett: The consensus best key forward, Sam Gayfer, will almost certainly be off the board by Melbourne's selection, and Pickett is the next best available. He has missed this year with an ACL and MCL injury, so there is an element of speculation to his selection, but he was trending to the top 10 before his injury, and that he has retained his status as a likely top 25 selection in the eyes of most speaks to how much promise he has. He is likely more of a second forward at AFL level, able to separate from opponents on the lead and use his forward craft to win one-on-ones, which he showed consistently as a bottom-ager for Geelong Falcons and at APS level.
