Five trade targets for every AFL club: Melbourne Demons

While there aren't many holes to fill in their list, Melbourne have consistently looked to experiment with who they send out on the track during Simon Goodwin's tenure.

Steven May, Jake Lever, Ed Langdon and Lachie Hunter have all been added in recent years and thrived in a set role when called upon.

Three of those names were part of their 2021 premiership run and even with the rock-solid lineup they now possess, we can still expect the Demons to make some moves and add to their premiership credentials.

Here are five targets Melbourne could have their sights on in the upcoming off-season trade period.

Tom Fullarton

Brodie Grundy will remain a Melbourne mystery over the off-season as teams and fans ponder what his job looks like come 2024.

If the Demons look to move on from him and find a ruck-forward replacement, Brisbane's Tom Fullarton looks an ideal option.

Footy fans will be pleased to know that Fullarton has a basketball background and as a dynamic, 24-year-old, 200cm forward, he could play the exact role Melbourne are looking for in Grundy for a low price compared to what they are currently paying the former All-Australian ruckman.

His agility and ability to play a variety of positions creates a mouth-watering prospect for any club, especially Melbourne who have been an attractive destination club for a half-decade now.

Such a move isn't without its risks also, where Melbourne could spend another year wasting time on a ruck duo that simply won't function to expectations.

Still, without the market value of other free agents, Fullarton may be an asset too intriguing to pass up.

Jack Petruccelle

A move to collect Jack Petruccelle would make up for what Melbourne lost with the trade of Jayden Hunt, adding the extreme pace that most teams typically look for on the flank.

While it hasn't hurt them recently, Melbourne's lineup, barring Kysaiah Pickett and Trent Rivers, is relatively one-paced. An asset like Petruccelle may not seem like a valuable move at first glance, but we've seen what a player like Oleg Markov can do to a contender like Collingwood.

Petrucelle's explosion would excite Melbourne fans and impact their transition between defensive 50 and the forward third of the field, perhaps allowing them better forward entries in the process.

The Demons' defence is always rock-solid with the presence of May, Lever, Petty, Tomlinson and others holding the fort, and a player like Petrucelle could shift Melbourne into a side known more for their offensive power than defensive structure.

Kane Farrell

Another player who could add to Melbourne's offensive flare, just in a different manner, is Kane Farrell.

That lethal left leg would provide a weapon that Melbourne doesn't currently have, with Christian Salem probably being their most damaging user by foot.

While many have called for a structural fix for Melbourne's efficiency over the past few seasons, one potential cure could simply be the inclusion of a left-footer like Farrell who can send 60-metre bombs off one step to the advantage of any forward.

There is no indication that Farrell is disgruntled with his current situation at Port Adelaide, yet he is still uncontracted beyond this year and he is a Victorian native, albeit regional.

Given his form at the Power, one could assume many clubs would be throwing some relatively handsome deals at the 24-year-old, but a destination club like Melbourne may be the perfect fit should he look to move on from South Australia.

Pick 1

This would be one the great moves of any off-season, but would not be out of the ordinary for a Melbourne side who have successfully earned a quality draft hand in years gone past, where they've selected Luke Jackson, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Angus Brayshaw with high picks.

Obviously, Harley Reid is the man in question when regarding pick one in November's AFL draft; his inclusion would probably give Melbourne premiership favouritism for 2024 and even beyond.

There is no doubt he would play as a utility for Simon Goodwin through his first year of senior footy, although his pre-draft status as a generational talent means he could play a prominent role in Melbourne's side immediately.

Will Ashcroft and Nick Daicos have set the precedent over the last two years for top draft picks impacting games of AFL footy from their debut onwards, and Reid looks to be next in line and would almost certainly thrive in an environment like Melbourne's.

Holding a trio of first-round selections heading into the off-season, Melbourne might have the best draft hand to make a move for Pick 1.

Jake Waterman

Melbourne's primary key forward slot has been ever-changing since their finals breakout in 2018, with each of Jesse Hogan, Tom McDonald, Ben Brown, Bayley Fritsch, Jacob Van Rooyen and Harrison Petty taking the reins at different times over the last five years.

With Jake Waterman, Melbourne would be provided a strong-marking and reliable set-shot kicking forward to add to their forward 50 options, while Van Rooyen continues to develop into the number one man.

For West Coast, Waterman was an ideal third target behind Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling. For Melbourne, he could be the same behind Van Rooyen and Fritsch, especially as Ben Brown and Tom McDonald continue their decline.

With Harrison Petty thriving recently in a forward role, Melbourne won't be in a panic to find another forward target, but a full-time forward who knows his craft like Waterman may slot seamlessly into the Demons' system.