Steven King appointed as Melbourne Demons’ new senior coach
Melbourne Football Club has made a bold move that’s got the AFL world buzzing—Steven King, currently an assistant coach at Geelong, has been appointed as the Demons’ new senior coach. The decision came after a thorough selection process and, interestingly, meant that former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, who was considered a strong contender, was overlooked.
King, who is 46, isn’t just stepping into any coaching job—he’s now the 28th senior coach in Melbourne’s long and storied history. The club, one of the oldest professional sporting teams in the world, has handed him the responsibility of guiding them out of a tough period following the sacking of Simon Goodwin. Goodwin had delivered the 2021 premiership, but the past two seasons had been disappointing, and his tenure came to an end in August with three rounds still left to play.
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For King, this is a huge moment. In his own words, he said he was “humbled” to be trusted with the role, calling it an honor to take charge of such a historic club. He spoke about starting his AFL career back in 1996 and experiencing just about everything the game can throw at you over the last three decades. That wealth of experience—on and off the field—will now be directed toward rebuilding Melbourne’s fortunes.
What makes this story even more interesting is the journey King has taken to get here. As a player, he was a ruckman who clocked up 240 games across Geelong and St Kilda, including captaining the Cats for four seasons and tasting ultimate success in 2007 as part of their premiership team. After hanging up the boots in 2010, he quickly transitioned into coaching, spending time at St Kilda, the Western Bulldogs, the Gold Coast Suns, and Geelong. Along the way, he was part of the Bulldogs’ coaching staff during their 2016 premiership win, as well as their 2021 Grand Final appearance. More recently, he even had a stint as caretaker coach at Gold Coast, before returning to Geelong as a senior assistant.
The Demons’ president, Brad Green, made it clear that King’s appointment wasn’t a rushed call. The board was unanimous in backing him, citing his football IQ, his competitiveness, and his focus on building strong connections with players. Those qualities, they believe, are exactly what the club needs heading into its next chapter.
For now, King won’t be diving in straight away. He’ll remain with Geelong through their finals campaign before officially joining Melbourne. But the countdown has already begun. He’s talked about his excitement to meet the playing group, the staff, and the fans, and about his determination to build toward success in 2026 and beyond.
So, while Nathan Buckley might now be free to consider Tasmania’s inaugural coaching role, the Demons have firmly set their sights on King. The real test will come next season, when all eyes will be on whether he can steer the red and blue back to the top.
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