AFL trade and contract news: Melbourne star Kysaiah Pickett closing in on four-year deal

There has been strong interest for Melbourne livewire Kysaiah Pickett, but he looks set to shun rival offers.

Melbourne is closing in on a four-year deal with brilliant premiership forward Kysaiah Pickett that would see him locked into the club until free agency.

The Herald Sun can reveal Pickett’s management is now negotiating exclusively with the Demons despite strong interest from Port Adelaide and WA-based clubs.

He is on track to pledge his future to the Demons in coming weeks after strong recent progress in negotiations.

Pickett is one of footy’s hottest properties in a market where clubs are desperate to secure goal kicking forwards who can go into the midfield to extract centre-square clearances.

Port Adelaide had been hopeful they might secure the 21-year-old, who spent the final years of his junior career living with uncle and Port Adelaide legend Byron Pickett in South Australia.

West Coast and Fremantle had already expressed interest given he spent his early years in West Australia.

Kysaiah Pickett is closing in on a four-year contract. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

It is believed Melbourne has recently improved its financial offer to Pickett, who has kicked at least 40 goals in each of his past two seasons and has only just started playing serious midfield minutes.

Industry sources believed rivals would need to offer Pickett a long-term deal at $800,000 to try to tempt him away from a club that has already handed him premiership success.

But a four-year deal will reward his stunning early-career success and give him the chance at 26 years of age to consider whether he will move with the flexibility of free agency.

The Demons refused to comment on Monday but the club is confident that within weeks they will have secured Pickett on a new deal.

The Herald Sun reported in March that the Demons were interested in securing Pickett’s good mate Liam Henry from Fremantle given he was out of contract and out of favour.

Henry missed selection for Fremantle’s clash against the Western Bulldogs, with his future at the club still uncertain.

The Demons have locked in most of their stars long-term including Angus Brayshaw (2028), Clayton Oliver (20230), Brodie Grundy (2027), Max Gawn (2025), Steven May (2025), Jacob Van Rooyen (2025) and Bayley Fritsch (2026).

The Demons also have Fremantle’s first and second-round selections as part of the Luke Jackson trade, with the Dockers’ early struggles meaning Melbourne is in prime position in this year’s national draft.