Keep or purge: Cornes' deep dive into the Demons

Melbourne could have some big calls to make this off-season.

Amid the hunt for a new senior coach to replace Simon Goodwin, there remains a lot of uncertainty around the playing list.

SEN’s David King asked Fireball co-host Kane Cornes which of the Demons he would keep our purge ahead for 2026 and beyond.

King: “If you were taking control of the Melbourne Football Club at the end of this season - because coaches are going to have to sit at the front of a panel and answer this question - keeping Christian or purging Christian Petracca?”

Cornes: “I’m keeping Christian, I’m purging a whole heap of others.”

King: “What if I give you a first-round pick for him?”

Cornes: “Nah, I’m keeping him.”

King: “What if I give you a first-round pick and a future second?”

Cornes: “I’d think about an extraordinary deal for him, but he’s the one I’d like to keep.”

King: “Clayton Oliver?”

Cornes: “I told you last year, they should have given pick for a club to take his wage.

“They should have paid for someone to take him.

“Gone.”

King: “Bayley Fritsch?”

Cornes: “Trade him. I really would.”

King: “Jacob Van Rooyen?”

Cornes: “No. I wouldn’t trade Van Rooyen.

“He’s a young key forward with some talent and they need forwards.”

King: “Jaker Lever?”

Cornes: “I’m happy to keep Jake.

“I don’t want to keep Steven (May). He’s been a great player but I think it is time to move past him and turn over a new leaf.”

The Demons, who sit 14th with a 7-15 record, finish their 2025 season with interim coach Troy Chaplin at the helm against Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night.