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.
2Tom Sparrow
There was concern entering 2026 that Melbourne's midfield may be one-dimensional, with Jack Viney and Jack Steele leaning on their contested game without having speed the modern game demands.
Viney's injury opened up an opportunity for Sparrow who has taken it with both hands. Sparrow's emergence as a midfield protagonist has offset those concerns, and perfectly complemented Steele's sturdiness.
The role of midfield coach Nathan Jones in the Dees' uplift should not be underestimated either; arrived with his only coaching credentials being two years at school side Peninsula Grammar, but his playing experience has helped transform the Melbourne midfield.
Sparrow averages five clearances per game, with his acceleration allowing him to burst the ball forward.
