Melbourne has been the indisputable surprise packet of 2026.
Its win over Hawthorn has lifted the club to fifth on the ladder with a 7-3 record, with their edginess on and off the field yielding exciting results.
Victories over top six sides Hawthorn, Brisbane and Gold Coast have franked their credentials as a team to be taken seriously in 2026.
Leadership change has liberated several players to perform above expectation, which has made the Dees a tough opponent once more and fun team to watch.
4Koltyn Tholstrup
As much as the stars, it is the output of role players which separates sides jostling for finals positions, and Tholstrup has played two critical roles, in particular, which have significantly contributed to Melbourne wins.
In Round 1, he effectively tagged Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, keeping him to just 18 disposals and minimising his impact in a high-octane affair the Dees won by 13 points.
Then in Round 10, he shut down Nick Watson – the Hawks small forward finished with three goals, but two of those came once the result was sewn up, with Tholstrup matching him for speed and limiting his impact at stoppages.
