Adelaide has expressed interest in luring Melbourne’s emerging midfield star Tom Sparrow home as he holds off contract talks until he established his role in the club’s star-studded midfield.

Sparrow is still likely to re-sign with the Demons but Angus Brayshaw’s sudden medical retirement has put a premium on the 23-year-old’s signature at Melbourne.

Sparrow was taken at pick 23 in the 2018 national draft after growing up in the Adelaide Hills and looks set for a breakout season after 67 games in the last three years including the 2021 premiership.

His three-goal, 20-possession outing against Carlton in last week’s community series game highlighted his potential as an inside mid who can still go forward to take overhead marks and hit the scoreboard.

As Adelaide and Melbourne haggled over the Shane McAdam trade the Crows asked about whether Sparrow or Harrison Petty might be involved in that deal.

The Demons quickly shut down the Crows but Adelaide has again asked about his availability.

In the end Adelaide threw a monster offer at Petty that involved him being paid over $1 million in the first season of a front-ended five-year deal worth $4 million.

Melbourne shut down that trade request but could have to ward off the Crows interest again given Petty made no secret of the fact he and his partner are at some stage keen to return to South Australia. 

In an AFL environment where the salary cap will go up again by 12 per cent next season Sparrow can expect a significant pay rise to remain at Melbourne.

He is seen as a loyal player who enjoys living in Victoria, so if he can frank his pre-season form in the early rounds of the year it will give both parties a chance to broker a deal.

Ideally the Demons would have loved to have locked him away already but they are comfortable with their progress so far. 

He could sign a two-year extension through to free agency or a longer deal to give him security given the salary cap is set to 2027.

Melbourne is still in talks with the AFL about whether they can exempt some or all of Brayshaw’s salary for the next four seasons after he was medically retired by the AFL.

He is due more than $3 million in a deal to 2028 with Demons football boss Alan Richardson confident the AFL will work with the club on a resolution that helps the Demons’ cap picture.

Finding a way to place some of his salary outside the cap will help in the retention of Sparrow and Petty, who the club is keen to offer a long-term deal past 2025 when he hits free agency.

Tell Adelaide they are dreaming!

Hes the last thing the Crows need. They don't need another mid of that style, may as well just play Berry 

Bugger off Adelaide.

What a nothing ‘story’ - classique Ralph

Reads like spaz’s manager saying “we’d like some of that Brayshaw retirement salary cap” puff pieces

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

Melbourne is still in talks with the AFL about whether they can exempt some or all of Brayshaw’s salary

Stunned this is still in ‘talks’.

Melbourne: “please exempt his salary from our cap or we’ll begin talking about our concerns that the AFL isn’t doing enough to protect our players’ wellbeing”

AFL: “sounds fair. Help yourself to some mentos on the way out”

With retiring players plus a 12% increase in the cap we must a fair bit of cap space free heading into next season.

I didn’t realise the offer to Petty was so big… and from memory Adelaide were insinuating a Petty-for-McAdam swap would be about right? 

Needs to find a Melbourne lassy to settle him down. 

I’m just waiting for Demonstone to ask whether he’s a flight risk. 

23 minutes ago, BDA said:

Needs to find a Melbourne lassy to settle him down. 

Already has a long term partner. Believe she is from SA though, like Petty’s…😂

20 minutes ago, Slartibartfast said:

I’m just waiting for Demonstone to ask whether he’s a flight risk. 

I'll start to worry if he's named on the wing.

16 minutes ago, 12345_54321 said:

Already has a long term partner. Believe she is from SA though, like Petty’s…😂

Tom is going out with Rodney Owen's daughter. Tom's sister is living in Melbourne and goes to all of his games here in Melbourne. Tom's brother lives in Sydney. 

Long as he can find a permanent spot in the midfield I think he will stay, only reason to go would be for more opportunity like James Jordan last year

As mentioned, another mid (Sparrow) or forward (Petty) are the last type of player they need. It’s their defence and ruck stock that needs replenishing if they are to move up the ladder. 
Methinks it’s a case of Ralphy making up a story that has little or no basis.

1 minute ago, Garbo said:

Long as he can find a permanent spot in the midfield I think he will stay, only reason to go would be for more opportunity like James Jordan last year

he's already got a permanent midfield spot imo; first rotation inside

it was interesting that they used him in a defensive role against cripps in the practice game - not entirely sure it was successful in terms of curtailing cripps, but he definitely hurt him the other way moving forward and hitting the scoreboard

Love the boy and I can fully understand why others would love him too.

I don’t think Melbourne will let the Crows have Sparrow but they can still give them the bird.

5 hours ago, M_9 said:

Methinks it’s a case of Ralphy making up a story that has little or no basis.

It does seem odd that they would ‘ask about his availability’ in February, a 23yo premiership player who has just dominated a practice match. 

What do they expect Melbourne to say “sure, yep, we’ve been thinking about getting rid of him anyway”.

Either made up story or Adelaide just leak this stuff to put pressure on Melbourne ahead of contract negotiations, still seeking retribution for the loss of Lever.

1 hour ago, The Jackson FIX said:

…..

Either made up story or Adelaide just leak this stuff to put pressure on Melbourne ahead of contract negotiations, still seeking retribution for the loss of Lever.

Lever and McAdam, even though the latter had fallen out of favour with selectors.

8 hours ago, Demonstone said:

I'll start to worry if he's named on the wing.

Because he’s be down the pecking order?

If he doesn't come on this year, I'd entertain the trade. He has all the tools, but hasn't really taken the next step after promising to be a mini-Petracca in 2021.

We should be seeing him perform like the Carlton praccy game regularly. If he can do that, he'll get a boatload of money from us and have no reason to leave as he'll be locked into the side as a starting mid.

Listened to him on MMM post game last week.

Seems really invested in the club and really wants to become a leader. 

I know money talks and there’s the lure of returning home but he didn’t sound like a player that was out the door at the end of the year.

It’ll be up to us whether he stays or goes I would think 

Jee that Ralphy is a piece of manure. Like we needed to know that right before the start of the season. 💩