Harrison Petty, staying at Melbourne, Adelaide contract offer, wants to move, premiership window, Shane McAdam, analysis

We are talking about clubs that participate in the players they trade. In. But sometimes it’s easy to overlook a club’s all-in offer by refusing to trade a player. out.

By retaining Harrison Petty until the final year of his contract instead of considering a swap with Adelaide, Melbourne has reaffirmed, in the strongest possible terms, that it is targeting premiership success in 2024.

Petty was interested in a return to South Australia and a lucrative verbal offer from the Adelaide Crows, but the Dees held firm at every turn, no matter what choices the Crows tried to present to them.

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Despite being committed to the club for next season, Petty did little to inspire hopes of a contract extension beyond 2024 when he spoke to 9 News Adelaide’s Josh Money Tuesday.

“It’s kind of my decision and the club’s decision, but the decision has kind of been made now by Melbourne, which I’m completely fine with, I’m happy to still be on a list of the AFL,” he said.

He admitted: “I guess at some point I would be open to coming back (home)… it’s difficult sometimes but my family is lucky, they can come and see me there for a bit. But sometimes it’s difficult. »

A lucrative five-year deal would have been on the table for Petty, but Adelaide’s trade of Shane McAdam to the Dees on Tuesday included an acknowledgment that Petty would not arrive at West Lakes in 2024.

Still, you don’t have to be an expert in tasseography to know what the situation will look like this time next year.

“Certainly aware of his strong desire to return home and he will want to at some point,” Adelaide list manager Justin Reid said. AFL Commercial Radio Tuesday.

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“He’s a player under contract. We will explore these opportunities for any South Australian player keen to return home.

As Anthony Hudson noted on Fox Footy’s Trading dayThere’s a “good chance” Petty will seek a job before 2025 as a restricted free agent, with the Crows confident they will be in pole position to make a deal.

The Dees are not fools.

They know they hold an asset that currently has incredibly high value to Adelaide and that the balance of power will shift dramatically next season if Petty doesn’t resign and request a trade as a restricted free agent.

While positions can change over the course of a 12-month period and the Dees hope Petty recommits, what their decision underscores is the importance of the here and now.

The club view Petty as a ready-made partner for Jacob van Rooyen in the striker 50, with his six goals against Richmond on Matchday 20 a glimpse of what he is capable of.

The inclusion of McAdam is also a good recruiting move by the Dees.

The key to Melbourne’s woes over the past two seasons has been their inability to maximize 50 entries, perhaps best illustrated by the qualifying final defeat to Collingwood this year.

McAdam could be the perfect link player with great pressure and physicality as well as the ability to win aerial and ground competitions.

With Jake Melksham dealing with an ACL injury during the second half of 2023, McAdam is a ready-made replacement in the interim.

“I think he adds a bit of chaos if he can get some continuity with his body,” ex-Hawk Ben Dixon said of McAdam on Fox Footy’s. Trading day.

“One thing I really like about his game – and we haven’t seen it consistently – is his ability to put pressure on chaos.

“You put Kozzie Pickett on top, it’s a great formula. We saw it with Collingwood this year, if you can put that kind of pressure on, you put the defense under enormous heat.

Signing a 28-year-old and not capitalizing on a 23-year-old’s actions in a buyers’ market looks like a club with premiership success in mind.

Final day acquisition Jack Billings could also be a smart move in Melbourne as a change of scenery could reverse his fortunes after a recent ill-fated run at St Kilda.

“Jack Billings is interesting, but I think he has good football – he had some very high-scoring years from 2017 to 2019 – and has that point of difference, that composure and that lovely kick that can helping them in the forward third, which has been a big problem for them,” said two-time All-Australian Leigh Montagna.

No premiership is won without bold steps and the Dees will be hoping their overall bid results in a second premiership for a slate that most in the footballing world believe should end with more than a post of Prime Minister.

Melbourne’s deals – and no deals – this offseason prove the club shares the same view.