With new senior coach Steven King at the forefront, Melbourne is preparing to undergo a world of list change this off-season \u2014 with the football club finally choosing to turn a corner. <\/p>\n
In what would truly signal a fresh direction at a club that has consistently been under scrutiny in recent years, there is an increasingly likely reality where the Demons farewell all of Christian Petracca, Judd McVee, Steven May and Clayton Oliver. <\/p>\n
Petracca and McVee are expected to find greener pastures in the exchange period \u2014 having officially made trade requests \u2014 while May and Oliver have been urged<\/a> to find new homes. <\/p>\n Watch every match of the 2025 NAB AFL Women\u2019s Season LIVE ad-break free during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n While former coach Simon Goodwin was adamant that Melbourne, as currently constructed, was still in a window of premiership contention, the player personnel moves the club is set to make don\u2019t quite correlate with that.<\/p>\n What should Demons fans make of the new direction with King at the helm, and should they be concerned or buoyed by the moves set to be made? <\/p>\n Can they still contend for a return to the top eight next season? And what should they be demanding in return for their departing stars?<\/p>\n Foxfooty.com.au dives in, with insights from 203-game, 282-goal former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon. <\/p>\n Steven King is leading a new era at Melbourne, with as many as four stars set to depart in October.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n The Demons\u2019 new direction under King\u2019s leadership is bold, but Dixon says the club needs to get through this crucial list management period before making bold calls regarding finals aspirations. <\/p>\n \u201cI think (new chief executive) Paul Guerra coming out and going \u2018we want to play finals next year\u2019 \u2014 I think that\u2019s all well and good, ambitious, but you need to get Steven King\u2019s feet under the desk and get through a trade period before you can assess where you think your list\u2019s at,\u201d Dixon told Foxfooty.com.au on Thursday. <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going to lose the calibre of Petracca and Oliver, May \u2014 I mean, they\u2019re pretty big holes to fill. They don\u2019t just grow on trees, those sorts of players. <\/p>\n \u201cThey (those that have sought moves) are looking for a fresh start; that probably tells us a little bit about Melbourne and the communication and the transparency of where their group\u2019s at. <\/p>\n \u201cI think he (Guerra) might\u2019ve gone a bit early on playing finals next year, and where the list\u2019s at, because you haven\u2019t finalised the list yet. It\u2019s about Steven King getting his feet under the desk and assessing where they\u2019re going. <\/p>\n \u201cSo, I don\u2019t think your CEO can come out and say that, based on not knowing. It\u2019s great to say you want to play finals, but you\u2019ve got to get a bit granular on the list (in terms of) \u2018where we\u2019re going\u2019 and \u2018what we\u2019re doing\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Merrett to attend B&F amid trade talk | 03:04<\/p>\n Unless there\u2019s a drastic change in circumstances, Petracca will depart Melbourne for Adelaide or Gold Coast in the coming fortnight. <\/p>\n The question the Demons will carefully consider revolves around what sort of deal they\u2019re willing to accept, and whether there\u2019s an associated salary component. <\/p>\n Given the 29-year-old\u2019s hefty salary \u2014 having earned approximately $1.2 million this season with four years to run on his deal \u2014 they may have to settle for slight unders in any trade, unless they\u2019re willing to take on a portion of the money he\u2019s owed. <\/p>\n