Melbourne locks away Harrison Petty on two-year contract extension amid strong interest from the Crows

Melbourne’s Harrison Petty has secured a pay rise to stay at Melbourne after speculation over previous summers he would find his way back to Adelaide.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 13: Harrison Petty of the Demons warms up prior to the round 18 AFL match between Melbourne Demons and Essendon Bombers at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on July 13, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Melbourne big man Harrison Petty has signed a two-year contract extension at the Demons to quash any prospect of a return to Adelaide.

The Herald Sun has confirmed the swingman has inked an early agreement to remain in red and blue until the end of 2027.

Petty was already signed until the end of 2025 but has recommitted to the fresh deal which includes a pay rise for the 24-year-old.

It is a significant boost for the Demons and list boss Tim Lamb as Adelaide showed significant interest in Petty in last year’s trade period.

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There was speculation the Crows offered two first-round draft picks for Petty but Adelaide has denied it was prepared to offer that much for the premiership defender-turned-forward last year.

Harrison Petty has filled Max Gawn’s void in the ruck the past fortnight. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

While it was still unclear whether Adelaide was planning to make a major play for him in this year’s trade period, the extension extinguishes any doubt about Petty’s future after consideration this year.

The contract locks Petty in at the Demons for the next three years at least following on from significant deals for gun key forward Jacob Van Rooyen and Tom Sparrow.

Melbourne has used Petty as a key forward this season but he has struggled to have a major impact kicking only five goals in 15 games this season.

Petty has maintained he saw his future at Melbourne after being taken with pick No. 37 in the 2017 national draft as one of the top key defenders in that year’s draft class.