Melbourne’s reset ahead of season 2026 has worked a treat, and according to David King, the club’s new-found stars should be pushing for All-Australian consideration.

After moving on from head coach Simon Goodwin at the backend of 2025, the Demons opted to clean out the dressing room, accommodating to Christian Petracca’s wishes to move to the Gold Coast and trading away Clayton Oliver to the Giants.

With Steven May opting to retire, Judd McVee leaving for the Dockers and Charlie Spargo signing with the Roos, life under new coach Steven King commenced with some serious change to the list that saw them finish in a measly 14th.

That said, King’s run-and-gun game plan has altered the club’s fortunes, and despite the glut of first-teamers changing colours ahead of the season, he certainly has the talent to match his ambitions.

And incredibly, much of the talent finding success under King already lived within the walls of the club.

“The footy world has talked about the improvement of Tom Sparrow, and he just continues to get better,” David King told SEN Fireball.

“They have given him the keys to the midfield essentially, and said, ‘just go your hardest and see if you can get us rolling’, and he’s just been terrific.

“He would be on the edges of the 40-man All-Australian squad. Do you think he would press for that as a smokey on the edges?”

“Probably not for me, but I get his improvement,” answered former All-Australian selector Kane Cornes.

King: “Hard to get in?”

Cornes: “Hard to get in as a midfielder.”

King: “I get that, but you tend to put them everywhere. I want to reward and recognise what he is doing. Daniel Turner has become a serious key defender in the competition.”

Cornes: “Serious.”

King: “He had 11 defensive 50 intercepts.”

Cornes: “Five intercept marks.”

King: “Aliir Aliir is the only other defender that’s had more than 11 in the D50 for about 12 months. They’ve got one there.

“Life after Steven May has been well and truly covered. He’s only played 30-odd games down back.

“There’s some real excitement about what the Dees are doing.”

Beyond their individual talent improvement, Cornes also believes that the club’s all-in approach to team defence has played a major role in their vast improvement this season.

Smothering behind the ball within their 39-point win over Hawthorn, Cornes couldn’t help but commend the mindset change implemented by the first-time coach.

“I thought they defended as well as I’ve seen a team this year,” Cornes said.

“The defence of Hawthorn’s entries was just… they were so organised and committed.

“We spoke to Steven King – not the last time we spoke to him, the previous time to that – he said, ‘I tell my backs to join in. I want them all to join in. There’s been some adjustments with that and getting that message through.’

“They now all join in. Defend the entry that comes in, and when you win it with extra numbers, they just go.”

Flying up to fifth place with seven wins from 10, the Dees are set to face an undermanned Bulldogs side at Marvel Stadium this Sunday.