The Block’s new cast has sparked fears its $5m Mount Eliza homes may struggle to connect with buyers ahead of auction.
The upcoming season of The Block is already under scrutiny, with fans questioning whether its latest line-up matches the prestige of the multimillion-dollar homes being built in Mount Eliza.
Set in the suburb’s tightly held golden triangle, the series will showcase high-end homes in one of the Mornington Peninsula’s most tightly held pockets, where buyers are chasing lifestyle, long-term growth and polished design.
Block judge and Whitefox director Marty Fox said the location alone would lift the season.
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“The views are absolutely spectacular and you’re right in the golden triangle,” Mr Fox said.
“You’re surrounded by established multimillion-dollar homes and long-term owners who have been there for decades.
“The calibre of the real estate this year adds a level of prestige and aspiration that will resonate with viewers.”
Block judge Marty Fox says this year’s Mount Eliza homes will deliver prestige and aspiration in a tightly held luxury pocket.
But M R Advocacy director and buyers agent Madeleine Roberts said the casting still had to match the market the show was ultimately selling into.
“From a property perspective, it is a little bit nerve-racking,” Ms Roberts said.
“The location sets a very high bar straight away.
“When the casting feels more aligned with personality-driven shows, it does raise questions about whether the tone matches the product.”
The concern comes after last season’s auctions fell short of expectations, placing fresh pressure on this year’s homes and contestants to connect with buyers.
M R Advoacy director Madeleine Roberts Buyers warns casting must align with buyer expectations in the $3m-$5m prestige market.
Ms Roberts said purchasers at this level were buying more than just a finished home.
“At $3m to $5m, buyers are buying a story as much as a house,” she said.
“If they don’t connect with that story, it can influence how they perceive value.”
She said contestants played a direct role in shaping that narrative.
“The contestants are part of the marketing whether we like it or not,” she said.
“They need to complement the homes, not distract from them.”
Chantelle Green and Wyatt Randall have already been spotted on site during filming, emerging as one of the most talked-about teams. Picture: Reddit / TheBlock
Ms Roberts said this year’s line-up appeared to lean more heavily into big personalities compared to last season’s more grounded approach.
“Last year’s contestants were called boring by some, but they were relatable and that worked,” she said.
“This year feels more personality-driven. That may create entertainment, but the question is whether it aligns with the buyer.”
She said the show still had a clear pathway to success if it delivered on design.
“At this level, the show needs to feel credible and considered,” she said.
“If the homes are refined and suited to the Mount Eliza buyer, this can still be a standout season.”
However, one insider said the early backlash risked missing the bigger picture.
Father-daughter duo Tayla and Rick bring decades of building experience and a strong design focus to this year’s competition.
“There’s a misconception based on promo images versus what actually plays out on site,” the insider said.
“The Block has never just been about everyday contestants. It’s about strong personalities who can handle pressure and deliver.
“If you go too far down the back to basics path, you lose engagement.
“What you need is a mix. People who can build and people who can connect with an audience.”
The insider said the homes themselves would ultimately define the season.
“The real estate this year is exceptional,” they said.
Chantel Green is expected to be a hot topic among fans for the upcoming 22nd season of The Block.
“Once people see the builds, a lot of those concerns will settle.”
But another insider said the concerns from viewers were justified, particularly after last year’s reset.
“When you roll out a cast that feels closer to Love Island or Married At First Sight, it does feel like the show hasn’t listened,” they said.
“The risk flows straight through to the auctions. This is a $3m-$5m product, it needs credibility.
“If the casting leans too far into entertainment and not enough into authenticity, you risk undermining the result.”
A spokesperson for Nine Network was contacted for comment.
NewsCorp Australia can reveal the two out of five teams for this year’s twenty- season of The Block, as questions mount over the show’s new-look cast.
Chantel Green and Wyatt Randall
Gold Coast couple Chantelle Green and Wyatt Randall bring fitness, business and high energy to The Block.
Gold Coast couple Chantel Green and Wyatt Randall are shaping as one of the most talked-about teams on this year’s Block, bringing a mix of fitness, business and personal grit to the build.
Randall, a personal trainer and former Australian Army rifleman, has built his career around discipline and resilience after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in his early 20s.
He began weight training as a teenager and later spent more than five years working in the supplement industry before moving into coaching, where he now focuses on helping clients achieve sustainable results through training and nutrition.
The Block 2026 constestant Wyatt Randall is a personal trainer and former Australian Army rifleman
Randall has also competed in bodybuilding and maintains an online presence that blends fitness coaching with light entertainment and gaming.
Personal trainer Wyatt Randall and activewear founder Chantel Green are already driving early discussion around this year’s cast. Picture: Reddit / theblock
Green, as a mother of three she founded the business with a focus on empowering women through movement, with messaging centred on “resilience, self-belief and transformation.”
One insider told News Corp Australia the pair bring a combination of high energy and strong personal branding to the show with Green widely tipped as a “firecracker” personality and Randall offering a more disciplined, structured approach.
They have already been spotted on site during filming, cutting a striking presence in co-ordinated fitness gear and quickly becoming a focal point of early discussion around the cast.
Tayla and Ricky Peroomal
Tayla and Rick are shaping as one of the most strategic teams, combining hands-on experience with a modern styling approach.
Father-daughter duo Tayla and Rick Peroomal bring a blend of fitness, styling and decades of building experience to this year’s Block.
Tayla, a personal trainer and small business owner, has built her brand around confidence and transformation, running female-focused fitness programs alongside her beauty business in Melbourne’s west.
Based in Williamstown North, she operates Inner Sanctuary, offering personal training, group sessions and beauty services, including cosmetic brow work aimed at enhancing confidence and appearance.
A mother to a young son, Tayla has positioned her business around empowerment, with a strong social media presence supporting her growing client base.
Her background in fitness and branding is expected to translate into a strong styling focus on site, while her father Rick brings construction credentials.
As director of T & S Restorations, Rick has more than 30 years’ experience across plastering, painting and carpentry, with a business specialising in repairs, renovations and building works.
Father-daughter duo Tayla and Rick bring decades of building experience and a strong design focus to this year’s competition.
His company has operated since 1995, delivering projects across Melbourne.
The pairing shapes as one of the more strategically balanced teams in this year’s cast, combining real trade experience with contemporary design and social media lens.
An industry insider told News Corp Australia the key question will be whether that blend aligns with the expectations of buyers in Mount Eliza’s $3m-$5m market.
“While Rick’s experience adds credibility, Tayla’s styling direction will be under scrutiny in a prestige setting like the Mornington Peninsula where buyers typically favour refined, timeless finishes over trend-driven design,” they said.
“They are certainly one to watch.”
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