Melbourne Appoints Steven King as Senior Coach for 2026 Season

Melbourne Football Club has confirmed the appointment of Steven King as its new senior coach, beginning in the 2026 AFL season.

Currently an assistant coach at Geelong, King, emerged from a shortlist of six candidates, edging out former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, who was widely considered the frontrunner. Buckley ultimately withdrew amid speculation linking him to the prospective Tasmania AFL franchise.

Sharing his eagerness to embrace the challenge of leading one of the AFL’s oldest clubs, King, shared: “Melbourne has a rich history, and I feel very humbled to be given this opportunity.”

“I can’t wait to meet the playing group, my fellow coaches, the staff and the Demon faithful, and start building towards 2026,” King said.

Sharing how King’s leadership and experience made him the clear choice, Melbourne president, Brad Green, expressed: “Steven has elite football IQ and a deep understanding of the game.”

“His philosophy and competitive drive align with where we want to take the club,” Green said.

King, 46, brings extensive experience across multiple clubs, including coaching roles with St Kilda, the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast, where he served as interim coach in 2023 following Stuart Dew’s departure. As a player, he notched 240 AFL games and was part of Geelong’s 2007 premiership side.

The appointment follows Melbourne’s dismissal of Simon Goodwin last month, just four years after leading the Demons to the 2021 premiership. With the club finishing 14th on the ladder for a second consecutive season, King will oversee a critical period of transition, including an important trade period that could shape the futures of high-profile players such as Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver.

King will remain with Geelong through its finals campaign before formally commencing his tenure with Melbourne.

The move signals Melbourne’s intent to reset its football program and stabilise performance after two challenging seasons, with King tasked with leading the club into a new era.

Don’t miss out on the latest in sports business – Subscribe today to the free Ministry of Sport newsletter and stay ahead of the game. For even more exclusive insights, event tickets, professional development and networking events, become a MoS Member today!.