AFL Trade News 2023: Melbourne pursue docker Liam Henry to keep Kysaiah Pickett
The Demons have a secret weapon in their bid to re-sign Livewire’s Kysaiah Pickett – and it involves a bold trade offer for a young star.
Melbourne’s secret weapon in its bid to re-sign star forward Kysaiah Pickett could be a bold bid to bring in best friend and former No.9 draft pick Liam Henry from Fremantle.
Pickett will be the most sought-after player across the trading floor this year given a relatively weak free agency pool and his brilliant play over three seasons.
The Demons would love to land Pickett on a three-to-five season deal in hopes they can start talks by Round 1, which could not be resolved until mid-season at the earliest.
Pickett enjoys the company of his team-mates and is happy in Melbourne, but keen interest from opposing clubs means the Dems will be nervous pending his signing when massive offers pull him out a year after Luke Jackson’s departure.
Contrary to popular belief, if Pickett decided to move on he would be more likely to find a new home in Western Australia than in South Australia.
He was raised in WA before moving to South Australia and eventually living with relative Byron Pickett as he pursued his AFL dream.
He has more family in WA and has active interest from clubs like Fremantle where good pal Jackson has ended up in the off-season.
Fremantle could be hoping to reunite good friends Henry and Pickett in the West, but Melbourne stand a much higher chance of securing Henry given his untapped talent and friendship with the Demons’ Torneak.
The Herald Sun believe Henry is likely to play at a Victorian club in 2024.
Melbourne believe he could contribute to a Melbourne forward line that Toby Bedford lost to GWS, with Bedford and Pickett being close friends prior to Bedford’s departure.
The Demons have been shattered to lose fast half-forward Bedford and believe Henry could play alongside Pickett, who has been training in midfield for some time this summer.
Henry was made three selections ahead of No. 12 Pickett in the 2019 national draft but fell out of favor with just seven games in his third season.
The Demons won’t be the only admirers as ex-Carlton recruiter Steve Silvagni bid on Henry in the 2019 draft (Fremantle matched the bid for the NGA player) and has now landed in St Kilda.
Originally published as AFL 2023: Stay up to date with the latest trade and agency news
https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/trade-hq/afl-2023-keep-up-to-date-with-the-latest-trade-and-free-agency-news/news-story/dca2fb92b50d033746108c4611506462?nk=a97c1ada4c9ae55db75f738c946371af-1675189148 AFL Trade News 2023: Melbourne pursue docker Liam Henry to keep Kysaiah Pickett
