Trade news: Three teams involved in pick swap as Demons hold firm on Harrison Petty after big offer from Crows
Melbourne will hold firm on a contracted in-demand player despite a big offer from the Crows as both clubs are involved in a pick and player swap.
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Melbourne will not flinch on holding contracted defender Harrison Petty as Adelaide throws a multi-million dollar deal at the Demons swingman worth up to $800,000 a season.
Adelaide is understood to have offered South Australian 197cm forward Petty a long-term front-ended deal that could average $800,000 a season but hit $1 million in the first season.
This masthead understands the Demons are open to extending his contract, which runs until 2025, at more lucrative terms to ensure the 23-year-old stays at the Demons.
Adelaide is intent on Petty being involved in a swap for departing forward Shane McAdam, but instead the Demons want to offer a pick in the 30s.
Despite Petty being open-minded to a move back to South Australia at some stage, the Demons can hold firm given he is a contracted player.
Losing Petty would be disastrous for the Demons given they have already lost Brodie Grundy to the Swans and are considered light on for forward leading targets.
It came on a turbulent day for the Demons as they secured the Suns’ No.11 pick to add to a draft hand that also includes the No.6 overall pick.
They could package those deals with their future first-rounder to trade even further up the order, although the Eagles No.1 pick seems out of reach.
In a series of complex trades, Adelaide secured pick 14 and Suns tall Chris Burgess for picks 23 and 26, the Demons got pick 11 for picks 14, 27 and 35, and the Roos swapped their second 2024 end-of-first-rounder to the Suns for this year’s pick 18.
It means the Suns have enough draft points to secure four academy players while stockpiling the Dogs future first-rounder and the Roos 2024 end-of-first-round pick.
Burgess will help the Crows with their key position issues, but they are still intent on holding Elliott Himmelberg unless they can secure more defensive cover.
Adelaide will continue their attempt to drag Petty across the border given he has shown he can play as a leading forward, lock-down defender or intercept marker.
At only 23 he has a massive future and the Demons are prepared to show him how valuable he is by signing on for a new deal.
So Adelaide might have to accept a draft pick instead of a player, with the Crows having cashed in their picks 23 and 26 for pick 14.
The Crows now have selections 10 and 14, and could attempt to use another mid-30s pick at the draft or to push further up the order.