UNDER new coach Tom Wilson, Melbourne has produced a seven-win start to the 2026 season, having suffered just the one loss across the eight rounds.

It's an impressive beginning to this year's fixture, not just for the team, but also on an individual level, with a number of Dees players hitting career-high numbers across key statistics.

In the back half of the ground, tall defender Tahlia Gillard has been an integral Demon this season. The 22-year-old is leading the league for total spoils with 38, while sitting fifth in the league for total marks with 39.

Through Melbourne’s midfield, Tyla Hanks and Olivia Purcell have become a dominating duo through stoppages. 

Hanks is hitting career-high numbers across the board, most notably sitting third in the league for total tackles, accumulating 65 across the season. This averages to 8.1 tackles a game.  

Purcell comes in at fifth across the league for total disposals at 239, averaging a whopping 29.9 touches per game.

Tayla Harris has continued her contested ways, sitting fifth across the league for contested marks with 12.

In the forward line, new Demon Mia Austin is proving she may be the recruit of the year, kicking 16 goals across eight games. This is a career-high for Austin and sees her sit at equal second on the overall goals leaderboard behind Hawthorn’s Aine McDonagh and Geelong’s Chloe Scheer.