MELBOURNE is set to make a big splash in AFL free agency following their disastrous season, with the Demons intent on signing Collingwood star Jamie Elliott and versatile GWS tall Adam Tomlinson.
Both are unrestricted free agents and can sign with any team they choose after the AFL’s free agency window opened on Friday.
Hard-running Fremantle winger Ed Langdon is also in Melbourne’s sights, but he isn’t a free agent and will need to find his way to the Demons via the trade period that starts on Monday.
Tomlinson has officially informed the Giants he will explore his free agency rights, while Elliott is mulling a three-year deal dangled by the Demons in a bid to lure the talented but injury-prone forward.
Elliott met with Magpies football chief Geoff Walsh on Thursday and was non- committal on his future as he left the club.
“Jamie has been really thorough and smart about the decision he has to make,” Melbourne football boss Josh Mahoney told Trade Radio on Friday.
“It’s an important decision for his career. He has been at Collingwood for a long period of time and he is weighing up all the options that he has got.
“He is a quality player, he has obviously had an injury-interrupted career thus far, but we think we are a chance.
“But he is at a very strong club and they’ve had a lot of success at Collingwood as well.
“I’m sure we will find out something about that in the next few days.”
Tomlinson, the ninth pick at the 2011 draft, will depart the Giants after 140 games in eight seasons, with the Demons keen to use him off a wing.
“I’ve loved my time at the Giants and I’d like to thank the club for the opportunities they’ve given me,” Tomlinson said on Friday.
“Being a part of the club from day one is something I’m extremely proud of and no doubt I’ll look back on this period of my career fondly in the years to come.”
GWS are set to lose another key tall in Jonathon Patton, who was the No.1 pick at the 2011 draft.
Patton is looking for a fresh start after struggling through three knee reconstructions and has nominated Hawthorn as his preferred destination at the upcoming trade period.
Demons key defender Sam Frost could also pull on a Hawks jumper from next season.
“We’ve been having some conversations with Sam and indicated that we have a contract there for him, but we weren’t prepared to offer one at the time,” Mahoney said.
“Given that he’s 26 years of age, he took the opportunity to have a look around and at this stage indicated that Hawthorn have got a contract offer for him.”
© AAP 2019
