King-sized win: New-look Demons on song, edge St Kilda’s rich recruits

Melbourne’s Steven King era is off to a perfect start, consigning St Kilda and their band of rich recruits to a second consecutive defeat in a 13-point result at the MCG on Sunday.

The Demons’ board sacked 2021 premiership coach Simon Goodwin in August and appointed King barely a month later, with champion midfielders Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver also finding new clubs soon after. By the start of this month, Steven May was gone, too.

There were several new faces in red and blue against the Saints, from former St Kilda captain Jack Steele to fellow recruits Brody Mihocek and Changkuoth Jiath, and exciting draftee Latrelle Pickett – Kysaiah’s cousin.

All four did their bit in Melbourne’s spirited victory, but it was key forward Jacob van Rooyen’s career-best six-goal day that proved the difference, including five in a thrilling opening half that set the tone for a captivating contest.

King said he felt “immense” pride in his players and colleagues after kicking off his coaching career with a win.

“I feel like I’ve been talking a lot around what Demon football is going to look like, but until you put it on show, and actually do it, they’re pretty cheap, those words,” King said.

“Today was a really challenging game, as all early round games are, and it was quite chaotic. I don’t think we sit here today and [think] it was by any means perfect. We were challenged a lot, but I’m really proud of the players’ resilience and composure under pressure, just to win big moments – and to get the win is really special.”

The new-age Dees led by only four points at three-quarter-time, but their captain Max Gawn refused to let them lose, producing a brilliant last quarter to transform an even ruck battle with new Saint Tom De Koning into a landslide win for the Melbourne star.

Gawn amassed 10 disposals, five contested possessions, three marks, 12 hit-outs and kicked an excellent set-shot goal from an acute angle in a heroic final term, whereas De Koning faded with only two touches.

“Max means a lot to this club, and you can just tell it means a lot to him,” King said.

“I think the question came down at three-quarter-time, and Max was happy to play the last quarter out. For his age [34], and just the way he grinds out games, his experience and the impact he had was huge in the outcome of the game.”

Van Rooyen’s 50-metre strike for his final goal kicked the Demons to a match-high 18-point lead – almost 10 minutes into the fourth quarter – but they had to desperately hang on as St Kilda frittered away chances.

With only seven points separating the sides after Max Hall’s fourth major, Bradley Hill’s ill-advised kick across goal to Darcy Wilson, who was sandwiched between two Melbourne opponents, proved the decisive moment.

Bayley Fritsch swooped on the loose Sherrin and extended the Demons’ advantage to 13 inside the last three minutes, burying the Saints’ hopes of responding to last week’s loss to Collingwood.

Melbourne snatched a two-point half-time lead after conceding three of the first four goals in the first proper look at King’s promise of more aggressive ball movement.

Van Rooyen, with new forward partner-in-crime Mihocek nearby and also busy, was at the heart of the Demons’ inside-50 fireworks.

The 2021 first-round pick had never kicked more than four goals in any of his previous 57 games, but already had five by half-time. The best of them was a booming finish from inside the centre square that Gawn shepherded through.

“I was shocked. I didn’t know he kicked six,” King said.

“I just saw his work ethic, his work-rate, his energy – that’s what his whole summer’s been. I’m rapt for him. He put in a lot of work … before I was even appointed, he came back looking like a different athlete, so he’s just getting reward for that. To see him convert today under pressure is a credit to him.”

Former Magpie Mihocek also slotted his first goal in his new colours, but it was newcomer Pickett’s career-opening major that lit up the ’G.

He marked a Koltyn Tholstrup pass metres in the clear, took three bounces and weaved his way through a series of St Kilda defenders before snapping truly.

On a day of highlights, including an early mark-of-the-year contender from spring-heeled Saint Liam Ryan, Pickett’s introductory goal encapsulated King’s bold blueprint for Melbourne.

The new coach was bold himself, backing in Tholstrup as the surprise option to shadow Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, the $2 million man who terrorised these same Demons in round 20 last year with a scintillating performance to pinch a last-gasp win.

This time, it was Melbourne celebrating, even as Wanganeen-Milera threatened to do it again with his third goal of the day in the final term.

“The reality is, we could be 2-0, maybe, 1-1, but 0-2, regardless of what that result was, either way, you sneak over,” St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said.

“We’ve got some issues to deal with, and some things we’re doing really well. So, I said to the players, as long as you come in to prepare to fix those things and learn [we can work with that].”

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