Melbourne's first session of the pre-season saw all four of their trade recruits hit the track, with the Demons' new era under Steven King officially underway.
Ex-St Kilda pair Jack Steele and Max Heath, departed Hawk Changkuoth Jiath and Collingwood premiership forward Brody Mihocek were all in their new colours at Gosch's Paddock on Monday morning as the Demons worked through a session that held a heavy focus on ball movement.
Both Mihocek and Jiath were limited to running to commence their new tenures, with Steele and Heath immediately injected into King's planning for the pre-season.
Steele would move into running laps late into the session as a smaller-scale match simulation drill broke open, while Heath was positioned as a key forward alongside Jacob van Rooyen.
Along with Mihocek and Jiath, Andy Moniz-Wakefield was limited to running as he continues to recover from an ACL injury suffered early this year.
Also among the fresh faces at Demons training were King's coaching additions Jared Rivers and Rhett McLennan, who have joined Melbourne's off-field brigade alongside Matthew Scarlett and Rory Atkins.
Category B rookie addition Oscar Berry was also part of the session and, going off early signs, could be used as a defender. The basketball convert, who had some promising moments, donned the No.38 jumper - which was previously owned by delisted forward Oliver Sestan.
Something new + something red & blue 🔵🔴 (1/5) #DemonSpirit pic.twitter.com/SUDyUtTV4R
— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) November 10, 2025
Jiath (No.14) and Steele (No.46) also had vacated digits, while second-year midfielder Xavier Lindsay wore Christian Petracca's old No.5.
Among the Melbourne players to catch the eye were ex-Eagle Jai Culley, reigning Pick 6 selection Harvey Langford, wingman Caleb Windsor and emerging key forward Matthew Jefferson, who spearheaded one end of the field alongside uncapped attacker Luker Kentfield.
Langford, Lindsay and Windsor all shape as key players for King's maiden season as senior coach, with the midfield trio expected to step into larger roles in the absence of Petracca and Clayton Oliver.
Steele, too, will take on a significant portion of Melbourne's midfield mix in 2026, featuring alongside fellow veterans Max Gawn and Jack Viney.
Gawn and Viney were among the contingent of senior Demons who were spotted at the session, with Steven May, Kysaiah Pickett, Ed Langdon, Bayley Fritsch, Jake Melksham, Daniel Turner and Christian Salem also absent.
The Demons will add to their list via next week's AFL Draft, carrying Picks 7, 8, 37, 66 and 71 into the count.
