Melbourne has named a 26-player squad for its Round 1 clash with St Kilda as the Dees look to start the season strongly in melbourne vs st kilda. Three recruits are confirmed as club debutants and a handful of players have been cleared to return, while several regulars remain unavailable.
Squad Breakdown And Debutants
The extended list includes three club first-gamers who will pull on the red and blue for the first time: Jack Steele, Changkuoth Jiath and Brody Mihocek. Latrelle Pickett is set to make his AFL debut in Round 1 and is included in the wider group. A number of players have been cleared to play in some capacity at either Melbourne or Casey, including Jai Culley, Bayley Fritsch, Brody Mihocek, Andy Moniz-Wakefield and Jack Henderson.
Melbourne Vs St Kilda: Team News, Injuries And Selection Timeline
Jack Viney and Jake Bowey remain unavailable for selection with Achilles and foot concerns respectively, and promising young forward Luker Kentfield will also miss. From the 26 players named, 23 will be selected in the final team; that list will be confirmed tomorrow at 5: 00 pm ET. The club is aiming to open the 2026 campaign with a win in the melbourne vs st kilda matchup.
Match Timing, Venue And How Fans Can Follow
The Round 1 match kicks off at 3: 15 pm ET. Dees supporters can purchase tickets to the 3: 15 pm ET clash or follow the game on broadcast platforms listed by the club. The final teams are scheduled to be confirmed an hour before the match, with the confirmed 23 to be released at the stated time tomorrow at 5: 00 pm ET.
The announcement marks a new-look starting point for the club on matchday, with several fresh faces available alongside returning players and a small group still sidelined. Supporters will have a clearer picture once the final team is declared at 5: 00 pm ET ahead of the 3: 15 pm ET kickoff.
