Demons star defender set to walk out on club for new opportunity

Melbourne are set for a blockbuster offseason with another player set to depart the club as he seeks a fresh start with more opportunity.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 23: Adam Tomlinson of the Demons warms up before the round 19 AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Melbourne Demons at Marvel Stadium on July 23, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

A Demons defender is anticipated to depart the club as a free agent — and a Victorian rival could be the best-suited destination.

Meantime, a long-time Geelong onballer is also set to leave at year’s end after a shortage of senior opportunities.

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DEMON ‘SET TO LEAVE’ AS POSSIBLE DESTINATION PRESENTS

Melbourne key defender Adam Tomlinson is expected to call it quits with the Demons this year amid a lack of chances at senior level, according to SEN reporter Sam Edmund.

Tomlinson, who played a key role in the club’s 2021 dominance before missing out on its premiership due to injury, holds unrestricted free agent rights this off-season.

Tomlinson is after more opportunity. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

The 31-year-old has played a combined 32 AFL games in the past four seasons, and he hasn’t played more than 13 senior games in a season since 2019.

Edmund floated a rival Victorian club as a possible landing spot this October.

“(He is) set to leave Melbourne as an unrestricted free agent,” Edmund told SEN. “(He) wants more opportunity ... is St Kilda the home as his third club?”

With in-demand defender Josh Battle widely anticipated to depart Moorabbin for Hawthorn this off-season, adding Tomlinson as further depth behind All-Australian Cal Wilkie and Dougal Howard could be wise.

CAT TO LEAVE... BUT NEW HOME UNCERTAIN

Geelong onballer Brandan Parfitt is expected to leave the Cattery at season’s end, but whether he locates a new home isn’t certain.

The 26-year-old has played 130 games since debuting in 2017 and was a part of Geelong’s 2022 premiership after being called up late for an injured Max Holmes, and he is eligible for unrestricted free agency this year.

Parfitt looks to be on the way out. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Parfitt has managed just nine senior games in each of the past two seasons and reportedly doesn’t have a contract offer on the table from the Cats.

However, while a departure seems imminent, a destination for Parfitt is less clear.

“He looked for a new home,” Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph told Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle on Tuesday night, before reeling off a couple of potential landing spots.

“Melbourne wants to bring in experienced midfielders, West Coast is open to free agents like him and Jack Graham.

“He (is looking) for options right now ... He looked for a new home, (but) whether he finds one is another thing altogether.”

The NT Thunder product has played nine VFL games this year for averages of 26.4 disposals, 2.2 marks and 4.7 tackles.

Originally published as Demons star defender set to walk out on club for new opportunity