Melbourne ‘future-proof’ themselves after mammoth haul for Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver

Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver are gone, giving new Demons coach Steven King with a fresh slate as he starts his stint in charge.

Incoming Melbourne coach Steven King will field a new-look side next season after the Demons got four deals done on a frantic final day of the AFL trade period.

Midfield staples Christian Petracca (Gold Coast) and Clayton Oliver (Greater Western Sydney) both found new homes in the northern states in trades which were poles apart in terms of returns.

However, the Demons also secured former St Kilda skipper Jack Steele and Hawthorn runner Changkuoth Jiath, adding to the earlier additions of Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek and young St Kilda ruckman Max Heath.

Melbourne made Gold Coast pay up for Petracca, with the Suns handing over picks 7 and 8 in this year’s draft and a future first-round selection for the four-time All-Australian, who turns 30 in January.

Clayton Oliver joined the Giants

Christian Petracca joined the Suns

“Three first-rounders for Christian is an outstanding result for the club,” Melbourne list manager Tim Lamb said.

“It gives us two first-rounders this year, another two next year. So, that eight first-round selections over a four-year period. With the looming arrival of Tasmania, we’re going to be future-proofed.”

While the Suns paid a premium for Petracca, four-time best-and-fairest winner Oliver was sent to the Giants in exchange for a lowly future third-round pick in a final day fire sale.

Oliver had five years to run on a long-term contract but had endured a difficult past two years at the Demons.

Melbourne similarly got a bargain buy on Steele, though, who shapes as a ready-made replacement for Oliver.

“We’re absolutely pumped to have Jack at our footy club,” Lamb said.

“He’s an outstanding human, an outstanding player, an outstanding leader, and he’s going to be an instant impact player for us and we think he’s got a lot of good footy left in him.”

Steele, 29, had a third season added to the existing two-year contract he held at St Kilda.

Jiath, 29, also moved to Melbourne on a three-year deal, in exchange for a second-round pick this year and a fourth-round selection in 2026.

The departures of Petracca and Oliver – who followed free agent Charlie Spargo (North Melbourne) out the door – leave Melbourne with only 14 premiership players from 2021 remaining on its list for next season.