MELBOURNE'S Best and Fairest awards evening has arrived and the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy is awaiting its latest winner.

Proceedings can be watched within this article, with a video player appearing below this line for an approximate 7:40pm start.

>>VIDEO PLAYER TO LAUNCH HERE AS STREAM BEGINS

Who will take home the trophy? 

Here are some of tonight's leading chances.

MAX GAWN

The skipper has proven once again that even at the age of 34, he can continue to add new levels to his game. Gawn’s season was recognised with a ninth All-Australian blazer, and a career-best Brownlow Medal vote tally.

A pillar of strength for the Dees, Gawn was at his dominant best across the campaign, averaging 21 disposals, six clearances, 33 hit outs and four intercepts.

KYSAIAH PICKETT

Following an outstanding 2025 campaign, Pickett continued to establish himself as one of the most exciting and damaging players in the competition. The livewire Demon took his game to new heights through the midfield, while still providing the pace, pressure and game-breaking brilliance that has become his trademark.

Pickett earned a second consecutive All-Australian blazer following another standout season in red and blue. His ability to turn a game in a matter of moments, whether through the contest, in front of goal or with a piece of individual brilliance - made him one of Melbourne’s most influential players.

TOM SPARROW

A mainstay inside Melbourne’s midfield, the hard-nosed Demon found a new level of consistency and confidence in 2026. Having spent much of 2025 up forward, Sparrow embraced the opportunity to become a permanent fixture in the engine room.

Renowned for his fierce pressure and work ethic, Sparrow produced career-best numbers across the year, averaging more than 21 disposals and making his presence felt around stoppages. His defensive effort also remained a hallmark, helping set the tone for Melbourne’s relentless pressure game.

KOLTYN THOLSTRUP

Tholstrup’s move into the backline gave his football new life in 2026, with the young Demon embracing a role that demanded discipline, competitiveness and selflessness. The 21-year-old became Melbourne’s premier tagger, taking on some of the competition’s biggest names throughout the season before locking down a position in the back six.

Tasked with shutting down the likes of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Caleb Serong, Tholstrup relished the challenge and continued to grow in confidence. His ability to nullify an opponent while still finding the footy himself made him an increasingly important piece of the Dees’ line-up.

JACOB VAN ROOYEN

Van Rooyen produced some of the most explosive football of his young career in 2026, proving a difficult match-up for opposition defenders with his strength in the air and presence around goal. The key forward showed he could take a game apart in a matter of minutes, highlighted by back-to-back hauls of five and six goals through the middle of the year.

With his athleticism, contested marking and willingness to compete, van Rooyen continued to develop into a focal point of Melbourne’s forward line. Still just 23, the powerful forward gave Demon fans plenty to look forward to as he continues to build his game.

JACK STEELE

St Kilda’s Captain thrived in his first season in red and blue, providing a veteran presence and cool head inside a young Melbourne midfield. The man of Steele locked horns with many of the AFL’s best midfielders, often tasked with keeping a close eye on the opponent’s most damaging midfielder. 

With his hard-edged ball-winning and veteran savvy, Steele has made himself a crucial part of the club’s midfield brigade. Averaging over 23 disposals and five clearances per game, Steele managed to recapture some of his best form in years.