Track watch news and scouting notes from Melbourne pre-season training

Harry Petty and Kysaiah Pickett have been shifted across different positions in recent years, but we might now have a better indication of what 2026 looks like for the Demon duo. More in track watch.

New Melbourne coach Steven King may have shown his first major positional shift, with swingman Harry Petty locked in to defence during a look at match simulation on Wednesday.

Petty has been thrown to either end of the field but played predominantly as a key forward in Simon Goodwin’s final years and kicked a career-best 20 goals last season.

But the tall was stationed deep in defence during match sim, which took up two-thirds of the ground with reduced numbers.

Petty played on ex-Pie Brody Mihocek and alongside Tom McDonald, with Jake Lever up the other end playing for the opposite side.

Harrison Petty looks set to resume from down back in 2026. Picture: Getty Images

Mihocek worked up the ground in a high role.

Steven May, who was vocal during the session, was part of a large group of players who completed running during the match sim and the long-time full back was told by King he was not in his starting 23 leading into October’s trade period.

Kysaiah Pickett played exclusively through the midfield during match play, with Jack Steele and Caleb Windsor the most active players on the ground.

Kysaiah Pickett at training on Wednesday. Picture: Melbourne FC

Just a casual jog for Sharpy 😅 #DemonSpiritpic.twitter.com/OeZF0NiJYJ

— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) December 9, 2025

Tom Sparrow played as a forward, potentially playing a defensive role on recruit Changkuoth Jiath, while hard runner Harry Sharp played deep forward and his pressure was notable.

The match sim closed a session that saw several key players working away from the main group.

Skipper Max Gawn powered through a lengthy running session, while Jake Melksham and Ed Langdon also worked through their own program.

Budding star Harvey Langford was on track as he recovers from a concussion.

Jack Viney watched on as he eases back from achilles soreness, with defender Jake Bowey (foot) another injury concern as he faces six months out.

Forgotten recruit Shane McAdam worked through a long running block with player development manager Reece Conca as he builds his way back from an achilles rupture that ended his 2025 campaign.

While he sat out the match sim, draftee Latrelle Pickett showed flashes of his talent with a couple of exciting moves through traffic during earlier drills.

Originally published as Track watch news and scouting notes from Melbourne pre-season training