The Demons (3-1) are firing with King at the helm and will start favourites in Melksham's 250-game milestone when they take on his former club Essendon in Gather Round.
It comes after an off-season of upheaval shifted the focus towards the next wave of players who could lift Melbourne back into premiership contention.
"For the first time in a little while the youth and energy among the younger guys is outweighing that older, more experienced player," Melksham said.
"There's also a lot of guys that have been on the fringe in previous years that have played every game this year and are really adding value to our team.
"As an older player, when you're out there watching these guys who have worked super hard over their careers to date, to see the fruits of their labour come on show is really exciting."
Melbourne made a series of key changes last year, including removing Simon Goodwin as coach and parting ways with premiership stars Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver.
Melksham stopped short of saying the Demons' positive start to the new season had validated the moves, but is positive about the future under King.
"Goody had been amazing for our club and been so good to all of us boys but we all can't do it forever," Melksham said.
"There's a time-stamp for everyone but we're just happy with the way things are going at the moment.
"We're really happy with Kingy in charge and the boys are really enjoying their footy."
Melksham played 114 games over six seasons at Essendon before he was forced out of the game for 12 months as one of the 34 players banned over the club's drugs scandal.
A move to Melbourne gave him a new lease on life, reinvented as a forward under former Bombers assistant coach Goodwin.
Melksham shone in the Demons' rise to a preliminary final in 2018, but was left out when they won a drought-breaking flag in 2021.
A serious knee injury late in 2023 again sidelined the popular teammate, who said he is most proud of his durability and resilience throughout a rollercoaster career.
"The time at Essendon really helped me deal with adversity because that was just constant," Melksham said.
"If you look in the rear-view mirror all the time and you worry about what's happened in the past then it affects what you're going to do in the future.
"I've tried to not let anything dampen my spirits in that regard."
After an interrupted build-up to the 2026 season, Melksham returned and kicked four goals in last Sunday's surprise win over Gold Coast.
He also added a spectacular mark to the highlights reels that his three young children watch regularly on YouTube.
"I don't die wondering. I try to take a big mark every quarter but not too many of them stick," Melksham said.
"That one was really nice. It was a cool moment."
At 34, Melksham admits the end is near, but has left the door open to extending his career into 2027.
"I've tried to play as if every game and every year is my last, and really enjoy it for what it is - but who knows," he said.
"Me and Max (Gawn) joke every time we go on our end-of-season trips that we'll have another good year and sign another one-year deal at the end of the year.
"We'll come back to that in a few months' time and see where that lands."
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