Christian Petracca's trade to Gold Coast Suns has given Melbourne a good scope to poach Bailey Humphrey.
The Demons have a history of successful future pick trading, which could help them land Humphrey.
What happened?
Melbourne's trade with Gold Coast Suns saw Petracca move to the Suns, with the Demons receiving a 2026 first-rounder and 2027 third-rounder.
Why it matters for Christian Petracca
The trade has bumped Humphrey out of the midfield, and the Suns are now facing their biggest retention fight.
The Demons have a successful hit rate when trading future first-round picks, which could help them land Humphrey.
Mitch Cleary, a reporter from 7News Melbourne, said the Demons' pick from the Petracca deal gives them good scope to make another play for Humphrey.
What comes next?
Humphrey is contracted at the Suns through the 2028 season, but is being eyed off by Victorian-based clubs.
The Suns are saying they won't entertain a Humphrey trade, but Cleary believes the Demons' pick could help them get Humphrey out of the Gold Coast.
The Demons have traded their future first picks with confidence their selection will ultimately be worth less because of Melbourne ladder improvement.
Conversely, they've traded in early rival club picks believing they'll end up being more valuable because the opposition team will drop down the ladder.
After Round 13, the seventh-placed Suns sit lower on the ladder than the fifth-placed Demons.
This means Melbourne holds Picks 12 and 14 as it stands, giving them a good chance to make a play for Humphrey.
Humphrey is one of several key list calls the Suns could face at season's end.
Free agent Ben King remains unsigned beyond this year, while rival clubs are circling off-contract forward Jed Walter and contracted defender Joel Jeffrey.
The Demons' successful trading history and valuable picks make them a strong contender to land Humphrey.
Cleary believes the Demons' pick from the Petracca deal could be the key to getting Humphrey out of the Gold Coast.
The Suns' retention fight is set to be one of the biggest stories of the season.
With the Demons holding a valuable pick and a history of successful trading, they are well-placed to make a play for Humphrey.
The Demons' coach Steven King met with Humphrey last year, despite the Suns' stance that they wouldn't entertain a trade.
This shows that the Demons are serious about landing Humphrey and are willing to make a play for him.
The trade period is set to be an exciting time for the Demons and their fans.
With the team holding valuable picks and a history of successful trading, they are well-placed to make some big moves.
The Demons' fans will be eagerly watching the trade period to see what moves the team makes.
With the team's successful trading history and valuable picks, they are hoping to see some big names join the team.