Contracted Melbourne small forward Kysaiah Pickett is understood to be gaining interest from Port Adelaide and the two Western Australian clubs as the Demons brace for a surge of external advances on their premiership stars.
The Demons were able to swing the latest punch in their battle to retain key figures of their grand final-winning side, with midfielder-turned-defender Angus Brayshaw inking a new six-year deal this week.
Attention has now turned to young ruck-forward hybrid Luke Jackson, who is yet to recommit beyond this year and is tipped to join Fremantle at season's end on a lucrative deal.
But while Melbourne continue their push to retain the 20-year-old, interest in Jackson's housemate and fellow 2019 National Draft first-round selection Pickett is reportedly on the rise.
According toย The Herald Sun,ย the Power, along with the Dockers and Eagles, are "coming hard" for Pickett ahead of the final year of the livewire forward's current contract.
Pickett last re-signed with the Demons in 2020, extending his stay in the red and blue at the end of his first season at the club after joining from SANFL side the Woodville-West Torrens.
The 21-year-old grew up in regional WA and moved to South Australia in joining his uncle and Port Adelaide premiership player Byron Pickett.
According toย News Corp,ย the Demons remain confident of extending Pickett's tenure beyond next year, but that extension is unlikely to come until next year.
Melbourne will also have Steven May, James Jordon, Alex Neal-Bullen, Trent Rivers and Sam Weideman among the list of players out of contract at the end of 2023.
Pickett has booted 75 goals from 56 games for Melbourne since his debut in 2020, including 40 majors in the club's drought-breaking premiership campaign last year.
The Demons will be looking to return to the winner's list on Friday night when they travel to Optus Stadium to face fellow top-four contenders Fremantle.
