Melbourne list analysis: Contract status of every Demons player

The biggest challenge after building a premiership list becomes keeping it together. Chris Cavanagh assesses which Demons will need a bigger payday.

Many of the Melbourne stars are locked away on long-term deals, which is some good list management.

Max Gawn, Steven May, Christian Salem, Christian Petracca, Jack Viney, Jake Lever and Clayton Oliver all have at least two years to run on their current contracts.

That means a period of sustained success could be on the cards if all goes to plan in other areas.

However, there are plenty of decisions to be made about some of the younger players on the list and some money will need to be found in the salary cap soon, with some of the brightest young players including Luke Jackson and Bayley Fritsch due out of contract next year.

Here’s a look at the Demons’ list as it stands — and every player’s current contract situation.

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1. Steven May. Age: 29. Games: 171. Status: Contracted until 2023

A key cog in the competition’s best defence this year, May has enjoyed a big past two years for the Demons. May ranks elite among key defenders for disposals and metres gained and above average in every other key statistical area. He received his first All-Australian honours this year, being named at fullback.

2. Nathan Jones. Age: 33. Games: 302. Status: Retired

The Demons did the right thing and got one of their most loyal servants to 300 games earlier in the year. However, form and injuries meant he didn’t get a look-in for finals and Jones announced his retirement after a preliminary final that he didn’t feature in. A warrior through tough times, Jones played in 101 wins, three draws and 198 losses across his career, which began in 2006.

Demons superboot Christian Salem inked a juicy five-year contract extension this year. Picture: Getty Images

3. Christian Salem. Age: 26. Games: 130. Status: Contracted until 2026

A super-boot across halfback, Salem signed a bumper five-year contract extension in April after having been out of contract and eligible for free agency at the end of this year. A crucial player for the Demons and a popular member of the playing group, the club’s resident quarantine hairdresser rated elite for disposals and above average for metres gained and intercepts this season.

4. James Harmes, Age: 25. Games: 122. Status: Contracted until 2024

A tough and hard-running midfielder who often plays run-with roles, Harmes is locked away for another three years after signing a big five-year contract extension in 2019. After a quieter 2020, Harmes bounced back to have a solid 2021. He missed five games with a broken wrist earlier in the season but was otherwise a mainstay in the Melbourne line-up. Not bad for a rookie draft selection from 2014.

5. Christian Petracca. Age: 25. Games: 127. Status: Contracted until 2029

Having joined the bracket of the competition’s elite players in the past two years, Petracca inked a mammoth contract extension in May which ensures he is a Demon for life. The seven-year deal is worth about $6 million but is well deserved. Petracca finished equal-ninth in the Brownlow Medal this year — after placing equal-third in 2020 — and was an All-Australian for a second successive year this season.

6. Luke Jackson. Age: 20. Games: 30. Status: Contracted until 2022

Not many ruckmen get selected at pick 3 in the national draft, but Melbourne seems to have nailed the selection of Jackson. After playing six games on debut in 2020, Jackson missed just one match through injury this year and was crowned the NAB AFL Rising Star winner. He is capable of playing a significant role in attack, as well as assisting Max Gawn with the ruck duties. The sky is the limit for a young player who has still featured in only 30 AFL games.

7. Jack Viney. Age: 27. Games: 150. Status: Contracted until 2025

The Demons’ vice-captain shunned any free agency interest last year to sign a five-year contract extension which means he is effectively another Demon for life. After one of the best seasons of his career in 2020, this year was a little bumpy for Viney as he missed 10 games through injury or suspension, after an interrupted pre-season with a lingering foot injury. However, the tough-nut midfielder still produced some solid football and leads from the front with his attack on the ball.

Jake Lever was an All-Australian for the first time this year. Picture: Michael Klein

8. Jake Lever. Age: 25. Games: 122. Status: Contracted until 2024

An All-Australian for the first time this season, Lever has been brilliant across the backline in a career-best season. Working well in tandem with Steven May, Lever ranked elite for intercepts and intercept marks this season and above average for disposals, metres gained and spoils. His ability to read the play sets him apart and the good news for the Demons is the former Adelaide player still has many years of footy ahead of him, after signing a contract extension in March.

9. Charlie Spargo. Age: 21. Games: 59. Status: Contracted until 2022

A bumper pre-season was the catalyst for a career-best season from Spargo which saw him become one of only 10 Melbourne players to feature in every game this season. Spargo improved his fitness and got his body right and the fruits have come, with the crafty small forward consistently hitting the scoreboard most weeks. And when he’s not kicking goals, Spargo is often setting them up with high score assist numbers.

10. Angus Brayshaw. Age: 25. Games: 119. Status: Contracted until 2022

One of the poster boys of Melbourne’s selfless and team-first motto this season, Brayshaw has transformed himself from an inside midfielder to a hard-running wingman for the benefit of his team. While he is winning less ball than he was in 2018 and 2019, Brayshaw is playing an important outside role and rated above average for scoreboard impact this season.

11. Max Gawn. Age: 29. Games: 159. Status: Contracted until 2025

The Demons’ skipper was again an inspirational leader throughout the year and consistently got things going for his side with his ruck dominance. Gawn was named All-Australian captain and starting ruckman this year. He has now been an All-Australian in each of the past four seasons and on five occasions overall. The 208cm big man rated elite among ruckman for disposals, contested possessions, hit-outs won, hit-outs to advantage and scoreboard impact. Incredibly durable, Gawn played every game this season and has missed a combined four matches across the past four years.

12. Toby Bedford. Age: 21. Games: 2. Status: Contracted until 2022

Taken at pick 75 in the 2018 national draft, Bedford has managed just two AFL games in three years with the Demons and did not play at all this year after signing a one-year contract extension last November. Bedford played some good VFL football earlier in the year but the small forward role is one that the Demons have some depth in.

13. Clayton Oliver. Age: 24. Games: 124. Status: Contracted until 2023

Oliver’s season could not have been much better as he won the AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player of the Year award, was named an All-Australian for a second time and finished third in the Brownlow Medal count. After a dazzling start to the season, the ball-winning midfielder inked a two-year contract extension in April that takes him through until the end of 2023 when he will be a restricted free agent after eight years of service to Melbourne. Oliver finished the year with more contested possessions than any other player in the competition.

14. Michael Hibberd. Age: 31. Games: 173. Status: Out of contract

The former Essendon backman has had a good run since joining the Demons in 2017, highlighted by All-Australian honours in his first season at his new club. However, Hibberd found himself in and out of the side at stages this year and is without a contact for 2022 as it stands. He will turn 32 next January, so uncertainty remains over whether the Demons will give him one more year.

15. Ed Langdon. Age: 25. Games: 109. Status: Contracted until 2024

The former Fremantle Docker has another three seasons left on his contract and has been a very handy pick up for the Demons. A gut-runner on a wing, Langdon has missed just one game in the past two years since joining Melbourne and ranked above average in his position for disposals, metres gained and scoreboard impact this season.

16. Bailey Laurie. Age: 19. Games: 0. Status: Contracted until 2022

Melbourne’s second pick at No. 22 in the 2020 national draft, Laurie was drafted as a small forward or midfielder but was unsighted at AFL level this year. Eye and shoulder injuries did not help his cause and meant that Laurie only played two VFL games this year, averaging 11.5 disposals. The Demons will be hoping he can have a better run of things next year.

17. Jake Bowey. Age: 19. Games: 7. Status: Contracted until 2022

The Demons’ first pick in last year’s draft at No. 21, the rebounding defender was a revelation in the back half of the season. Laurie made his AFL debut in only Round 20 after some strong VFL form earlier in the year and held his spot for finals. A Rising Star nominee, Bowey had a bumpy start with his first game against Gold Coast Suns being relocated after the Demons had already flown to Queensland and the his second game being interrupted by lightning. While one of the smaller players in the competition at 176cm, Bowey has big upside with his ability to read the play and good skills by foot.

18. Jake Melksham. Age: 30. Games: 197. Status: Contracted until 2022

Since joining the Demons from Essendon at the end of 2015, Melksham had been a mainstay in the senior side until the middle of this year. He played 10 of the first 12 games this season, albeit two as a non-playing medical substitute. But he was dropped after Round 12 and only played two more games — in rounds 21 and 22 — for the rest of the year. While he still has a year to run on his current contract, other small and medium forwards having gone past Melksham at Melbourne. There have been suggestions he is open to a trade to a third club.

19. Fraser Rosman. Age: 19. Games: 0. Status: Contracted until 2022

An athletic forward or midfielder who stands 194cm tall, Rosman was selected at pick 34 in last year’s national draft. He did not feature at AFL level this season but played in nine VFL games. Rosman kicked two goals from 10 disposals in his Round 1 VFL debut.

20. Adam Tomlinson. Age: 28. Games: 160. Status: Contracted until 2024

A hardluck story of 2021, Tomlinson missed the Demons’ charge back to finals after rupturing his ACL against North Melbourne in Round 7. The former Greater Western Sydney wingman had played a key role in defence alongside Steven May and Jake Lever in the early part of the year, ranking elite in one-on-one contests in a new role after struggling to have a huge impact in 2020. Melbourne is hoping Tomlinson can return to the fold in the early part of next year. He still has three years to run on a five-year deal the then unrestricted free agent signed at the end of 2019.

21. Marty Hore. Age: 25. Games: 14. Status: Out of contract

A former Collingwood VFL player who the Demons picked up as a mature age recruit in the 2018 national draft, Hore played 14 AFL games in his debut year at the Demons in 2019 but hasn’t been sighted since. He has had a wretched run with injury the past two seasons, with toe and quad issues wiping out most of Hore’s 2020 season before he ruptured his ACL at training in January this year, ending his 2021 campaign.

22. Aaron vandenBerg. Age: 29. Games: 51. Status: Delisted

An injury-riddled career looks close to being wound up for vandenBerg, who managed just four AFL games this year, including two as a non-playing medical substitute. A 2015 rookie draft selection, he has missed 81 games through injury over the past seven seasons.

23. James Jordon. Age: 20. Games: 25. Status: Contracted until 2023

Originally selected at pick 33 in the 2018 national draft, Jordon was moved to the rookie list this year having been yet to play a senior game. However, he made his AFL debut in Round 1 and did not miss another match for the year. The outside midfielder has often been used as a medical substitute, but has also played some good football in the starting 22. The Demons handed him a two-year contract extension in April after an impressive start to the year.

24. Trent Rivers. Age: 20. Games: 34. Status: Contracted until 2023

A mid-sized defender at 188cm, Rivers managed nine games on debut last year before stepping up his game this year to feature in every match. Selected at pick 32 in the 2019 national draft, he continues to provide good run and carry off halfback, is a strong interceptor and generally uses the ball well by foot. Rivers signed a two-year contract extension last October.

25. Tom McDonald. Age: 29. Games: 193. Status: Contracted until 2024

After being put on the trade table last year and having little interest from opposition clubs, McDonald got to work on his fitness over summer and revived his career this year. After finding himself out of favour and out of the team in the second half of the year, the key forward missed only two games through injury in 2021 and produced his best goal return since 2018. The staggering turnaround led Melbourne to hand McDonald a two-year contract extension in September.

26. Sam Weideman. Age: 24. Games: 49. Status: Contracted until 2023

Six seasons into his career, Weideman is still yet to hit the 50-game mark and found himself behind fellow key forwards Ben Brown and Tom McDonald for much of this year despite some strong VFL form. However, the Demons clearly see him as part of their future and believe Weideman’s best football is ahead of him. Melbourne handed the young gun a two-year contract extension in September as opposition clubs circled.

27. Aaron Nietschke. Age: 21. Games: 0. Status: Delisted

The luckless Demons midfielder has had a horror injury run since joining the club with pick 53 in the 2018 national draft. Nietschke ruptured his ACL in early 2019 and then did the same knee at training later that year. Delisted at the end of last season and then redrafted as a rookie, he then went on suffer a third ACL tear during a VFL practice match in February this year, sidelining him for a third season.

28. Majak Daw. Age: 30. Games: 54. Status: Contracted until 2022

The Daw experiment hasn’t worked for the Demons, who gave the key position player a football lifeline after he was delisted by North Melbourne at the end of 2020 season. Daw produced some solid VFL football during the year primarily playing in the ruck, but he didn’t feature at AFL level. Now the wrong side of 30, Daw has played just four AFL games in three years.

29. Jayden Hunt. Age: 26. Games: 94. Status: Contracted until 2022

Hunt could consider himself desperately unlucky after missing the Demons’ finals campaign this year due to an untimely ankle injury. Hunt underwent ankle surgery in August after hurting himself against West Coast in Round 21. Until that point, he had played every game for the season, mostly as a dashing rebounding halfback. Hunt was declared fit again ahead of Melbourne’s preliminary final but was overlooked for the last two games of the year as the Demons enjoyed a relatively injury-free run.

30. Alex Neal-Bullen. Age: 25. Games: 105. Status: Contracted until 2023

Known as ‘Nibbler, the small forward enjoyed his best season since 2018. In and out of the senior side over the past two years, Neal-Bullen consolidated his spot in the team once again and played every game for the year. While his goal tally was down on the 27 majors he booted in 2018, Neal-Bullen rated elite for disposals and above average for forward-50 pressure. The best runner at the club, Neal-Bullen penned a new two-year deal in May.

31. Bayley Fritsch. Age: 24. Games: 85. Status: Contracted until 2022

Melbourne’s leading goalkicker this year, Fritsch was exceptional as a mid-sized marking forward. While he doesn’t often win a lot of the ball, he makes the most of his opportunities in front of goal with incredible accuracy. Fritsch’s average goals per game have increased each of the past four years since he was selected at pick 31 in the 2017 national draft. He signed a contract extension last October, tying him to the Demons until at least the end of 2022, but will likely command a beefed-up deal beyond that. Fritsch was part of the initial All-Australian squad this year but missed final selection in the team.

32. Tom Sparrow. Age: 21. Games: 28. Status: Contracted until 2022

One of the youngest and least experienced members of the Grand Final side, Sparrow missed only four games this year in a breakout season. Entering the year, he had only played seven AFL games. While he was a non-playing medical substitute in six games this year, the midfielder-forward had some strong performances as a member of the starting 22, including a 21-disposal, one-goal game against Brisbane in the qualifying final.

33. Oskar Baker. Age: 23. Games: 15. Status: Contracted until 2022

Since playing nine games in the second half of his second season in 2019, Baker has struggled to earn senior games with the Demons. He has played just six AFL matches since including three this year, two of which he was a non-playing medical substitute for. However, the wingman did produce a couple of eye-catching VFL games this year.

34. Deakyn Smith. Age: 19. Games: 0. Status: Contracted until 2022

Picked up as a rookie through the Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period in March, Smith is an outside midfielder who had come through the Melbourne Next Generation Academy. He played seven VFL games this year mostly across halfback, averaging 14.9 disposals.

35. Harrison Petty. Age: 21. Games: 30. Status: Contracted until 2022

A promising young key defender, Petty played a key role down back all season alongside Steven May and Jake Lever. He was given the opportunity to be the third tall defender after Adam Tomlinson went down with a season-ending ACL early in the year and took it with both hands, playing every game from Round 8 onwards. Petty had missed the entire 2020 season with a groin injury which eventually required surgery.

36. Kysaiah Pickett. Age: 20. Games: 39. Status: Contracted until 2023

One of the most inspired draft plays in recent years, the Demons did not mess around at the 2019 draft and traded up to ensure they landed Pickett at pick 12. The small forward was a Rising Star nominee in his debut season in 2020 and further stepped up his game this year, playing every game and ranking elite for goals and forward-50 pressure. Pickett has missed just three games since his AFL debut in Round 1 last year. The Demons wasted no time extending his contract by two years after his debut campaign. Pickett spends his nights watching highlights of Cyril Rioli on YouTube and could well finish his career with as many highlights as the former Hawk.

37. Kade Chandler. Age: 21. Games: 6. Status: Contracted until 2023

Having played just one game across his first two seasons, Chandler was on the fringe of being selected in the 22 for much of this year. The pressure forward was picked as a non-playing medical substitute in four games across the first 13 rounds and was in the starting 22 in only one game this year in Round 9.

38. Mitch Brown. Age: 31. Games: 76. Status: Contracted until 2022

A versatile forward who can also go in the ruck, Brown was on the list as a back-up player on the rookie list but was only called upon for one game Round 5 where he kicked two goals but then still found himself dropped. Since joining the Demons at the end of 2019, the former Essendon and Geelong player has featured in only six senior games.

39. Neville Jetta. Age: 31. Games: 159. Status: Retired

A reliable small defender for a long period of time, Jetta’s best football is past him and he has struggled to play regular senior football over the past three years. Injuries hurt his 2019 campaign and he has played just 11 games in the past two years since including five this year and none after Round 10. Has joined Collingwood as a development coach.

40. Kyle Declase. Age: 24. Games: 0. Status: Out of contract

A mid-season draft selection this year, the mature-age forward was picked up from VFL side Werribee in June but didn’t get much of a chance to show his wares at his new club. He played only three VFL games after being drafted due to Victorian lockdowns, averaging 23 disposals.

41. Jay Lockhart. Age: 25. Games: 22. Status: Delisted

After playing some good football over the past two years, Lockhart was unsighted at AFL level this season. A testicular injury suffered in a pre-season match did not help his cause and sidelined him for the early part of the season. He went on to play seven VFL games, averaging 21.9 disposals.

42. Daniel Turner. Age: 19. Games: 0. Status: Contracted until 2022

Picked up at pick 24 in the mid-season draft this year, the key defender did not get much of a run at things in the second half of the season. He played just four VFL games due to Victorian lockdowns, averaging 12.8 disposals and 4.3 marks. The Demons see him as an exciting prospect and he is a strong intercept mark in defence.

44. Joel Smith. Age: 25. Games: 21. Status: Contracted until 2022

The injury-prone Smith has had a horror run on the injury front over his six seasons with Melbourne and missed a large chunk of this year with knee and hamstring issues. However, he played the final two rounds of the home and away season and was part of the Demons’ first final. Melbourne announced he had signed a one-year contract extension in August.

46. Austin Bradtke. Age: 21. Games: 0. Status: Delisted

The son of Australian tennis great Nicole Bradtke, Austin was signed as a Category B rookie in 2019 but has so far been unsighted at AFL level. A 204cm ruckman, he played nine VFL games this year, averaging 8.6 disposals and 5.6 hit-outs.

50. Ben Brown. Age: 28. Games: 143. Status: Contracted until 2024

The former North Melbourne key forward was made to work to earn his spot in the Melbourne team this year. He played just three games in the first half of the season before being dropped after Round 9 and then winning his spot back at Round 17, which he kept for the rest of the year. Brown worked well alongside Tom McDonald in the Demons’ attack and hit the scoreboard in almost every game while also ranking above average for forward-50 marks.

Luke Dunstan. Age: 26. Games: 116. Status: Contracted until 2022

Signed as an unrestricted free agent last week, the former Saints midfielder looms as crucial backup support for the Dees with Jones and VandenBerg both leaving. At just 26, he has plenty of years left to offer if his form warrants.