Melbourne's stunning win over Fremantle was more than a statement.

It was the destruction of any sentiment that the Demons have been punching above their weight, and a warning that they are a true contender.

For first-year coach Steven King, it was also confirmation that he is the main threat to Justin Longmuir's status as the AFL's coach of the year.

Considering the latter's success so far in 2026, that is quite an achievement.

When Melbourne sacked premiership coach Simon Goodwin four years after a drought-breaking flag, and then lost Norm Smith medallist Christian Petracca and four-time best and fairest winner Clayton Oliver to rival clubs, nobody thought the Demons would bounce back this emphatically.

Now they are fighting for a top-four finish and have scored over 100 points in four of their past six games, despite losing star forward Brody Mihocek to a season-ending neck injury.

New structure on old foundation

The belief at Melbourne is palpable.

"If we play our brand of footy we can beat anyone. That's the belief Kingy's driving in us," Harrison Petty told ABC Sport after the Demons' win over Fremantle.

"We play a brutal game of footy and we try to play with a bit of flair. In previous years we haven't done that, and this year it's changed. It's an exciting brand."

After the victory, King credited Goodwin for paving the way to the side's success.

"I think you missed the foundations of what was already here," he said.

"They won a premiership five years ago.

"Simon Goodwin was a great coach of this footy club. So I've walked into a group that knows how to compete around the footy and defend."

His sentiments are reflected in the Demons' statistics.

Melbourne already boasted a competitive midfield that was fourth for clearance differential and first for contested possession differential last season, but it fell down in its ball movement.

In 2026, Steven King has overcome the loss of the club's two best midfielders and still improved to third for transition, first for clearance differential and sixth for inside-50 differential.

Their only weakness is in defence, sitting 14th for points against.

Does King beat Longmuir?

So what makes a coach of the year? Is it surmounting numerous obstacles to rise up the ladder? Or should it be the leader of the best side of the season?

Longmuir has put the Dockers in the box seat for their second-ever minor premiership, lifting the side from sixth to first in his seventh season.

The football gods have smiled on him with a league-high 11 players featuring in every game this season and the likelihood of at least five players in the All-Australian squad.

But how can you argue against the figurehead of a side that has had three losses, a club record 14-game win streak and is two games clear at the top of the table, being crowned the game's best coach?

Of the 23 winners of coach of the year, 39 per cent have won the premiership, 56 per cent have made the Grand Final and 78 per cent have made the top four — supporting the argument ladder position is a key factor.

More than 80 per cent of winners rose up the ladder, but the four first-year winners did not make a Grand Final that same season.

Winning the accolade is a massive sign of future success, with 11 of the 16 winners delivering a flag after receiving the gong.

It is a debate that will divide the footy community across the next fortnight, but neither coach will be anxious about the winner.

Longmuir's Dockers are the premiership favourite but are now batting away doubters following their loss at the MCG.

King's Dees, meanwhile, feel like the dark horse who could not only shape September but might just finish the month with the grandest prize of all.