The EIGHT players Dees must demand to unlock Petracca puzzle… and who they should ask of first

Christian Petracca looks destined to don new colours in 2026, with Adelaide and Gold Coast the only two clubs in the race for his signature.

The 29-year-old superstar touched down in the ‘City of Churches’ yesterday to tour West Lakes and meet with Crows coach Matthew Nicks — a sign of how serious he is about leaving Melbourne.

Additionally, Nine’s Chief Football Reporter Tom Morris revealed that Petracca has spoken with Suns coach Damien Hardwick over the phone in recent days. Again, a clear indicator that the midfielder’s decade-long career at the Demons is very likely over.

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Unlike 12 months ago, when Petracca was seen to only want to move clubs locally, the 2021 Norm Smith Medallist is now more than just open to a move interstate. In fact, it now looks like he only will end up interstate.

With new head coach Steven King now at the helm, the Demons look to be preparing for a list transition that looks beyond their 2021 premiership window. Petracca’s exit, though seismic, presents an opportunity to inject young, top-end talent and draft capital.

That’s where Adelaide and Gold Coast come into focus.

As is with the case with any contracted player of his calibre though, the biggest hurdle of all comes at the trade table. What are Adelaide or Gold Coast willing to give up that will satisfy the Dees?

At West Lakes, the answer — as revealed by foxfooty.com.au last week — is nothing that will make the eyes water. In other words, they won’t move heaven and earth to trade Petracca in.

It’s a different mindset to what they had when luring Izak Rankine from Gold Coast, or what their cross-town rivals traded to North Melbourne in order to land Jason Horne-Francis.

Adelaide has a decent enough draft hand to begin trade talks on picks alone, with a first-round pick (No.14) this year and a future second-rounder understood to be roughly what would be deemed fair; given the $1.2 million salary Petracca is contracted at until the end of 2029.

Gold Coast on the other hand, have a better draft hand than the Crows — but it’s almost certainly going to be preserved for Academy prospects in this year’s draft, specifically Zeke Uwland and Dylan Patterson who are expected to rank inside the top five best players of the 2025 pool.

From the outside, it looks like the acquisition of Charlie Curnow is of a higher priority for the Suns than Petracca. That being said, it’s still early days given the trade period doesn’t open until Monday, October 6.

Either way, it looks nigh on impossible for Damien Hardwick to trade in Curnow and Petracca, while also having the draft points to match any bids on Uwland and Patterson.

Which leads us to the players who could turn Melbourne’s head in exchange for Petracca this trade period.

It’s important to note that only Sam Flanders from the Suns has an established trade link to Melbourne, but as highlighted by Essendon legend James Hird, they want ready-made playing capital alongside a nice draft hand.

“They (Melbourne) don’t just want picks. They want a player because they believe they are in that window to make finals,” Hird said on Tuesday morning to AFL Trade Radio.

Below reads a list of four players at both Adelaide and Gold Coast who, if willing, would help turn the heads of the Demons at the trade table in exchange for Petracca:

ADELAIDE

Jordan Butts

The sole Crow who has been linked to a move out of Adelaide — but not on his own accord. Butts finished Adelaide’s season as the unlucky key defender out of the best 23, but foxfooty.com.au understands that doesn’t mean he wants to leave West Lakes. Nonetheless, other clubs such as North Melbourne are showing interest, which means there’s no reason the Demons can’t do the same. Given they’ve told long-time defender Steven May to look elsewhere this off-season, the 25-year-old actually fits the profile for what the Dees need really well. Butts isn’t looking for a move, but if Melbourne can sell him a vision back in Victoria, there is a world where he’s a piece in the Petracca puzzle.

Darcy Fogarty

Do they at least ask the question? Melbourne has been crying out for a key forward, and Fogarty would hit the sweet spot for the Demons. The 26-year-old has grown year-on-year for the Crows, but with his partner-in-crime Riley Thilthorpe exploding onto the scene in 2025, would a pitch as the Dees’ number one man in their attacking half leave him wondering? It’s highly, highly unlikely, given how loyal the South Australian is and how interested they are in Collingwood’s Brody Mihocek… but you don’t know if you don’t ask?

Josh Rachele

Probably the Adelaide name that will jump out the most to Demons supporters… but it’s fanciful to think he’ll be part of any deal. The 22-year-old livewire hails from Victoria, and has shown in his several seasons at the top level why he’s so highly-touted at West Lakes. The hurdle? He’s contracted to the Crows until the end of 2029, and has heavily bought into the club’s culture more recently. He is embedded in Matthew Nicks’ long-term plans, and there isn’t a world where they would want to part with him. Melbourne should start from here, even if they know the answer they’re going to get — no. They can works backwards from there though.

Luke Pedlar

The last and least experienced of the quartet, but he could be the one who’s looking for a fresh start the most. The 23-year-old was a staple in Matthew Nicks’ side two years ago, but has since been on the fringes through both injury and heavy competition for a spot in the club’s best 22 — playing just 13 games in the last two seasons. Pedlar has proven himself as the versatile type who knows how to hit the scoreboard, but do the Demons see him as someone who could fit into their long-term plans? It’s hard to say, but out-of-contract next year, any move for the South Australian might be more likely this time next season.

GOLD COAST

Sam Flanders

One of the more hotly-pursued players of this trade period, with St Kilda and Carlton among the clubs doing their best to entice the Victorian back to his home state. Keen to play more time in the midfield and across half-back, a Flanders coup would allow the likes of a Trent Rivers to play higher up the ground or on-ball in light of a Petracca exit. Contracted until the end of 2027, a deal involving the 24-year-old makes the most sense of any Suns player, and right now, his link is probably what’s keeping the Suns right in the mix for Petracca alongside Adelaide.

Brayden Fiorini

Out-of-contract, but no longer out-of-favour? The inside midfielder had to work his way back into Damien Hardwick’s best 22 the hard way with some absurd stat lines in the VFL. His unwavering work in the reserves is admirable, but is there a chance he gets pushed out again in the coming seasons? Both Port Adelaide and Essendon are leading the charge to recruit the 28-year-old, with the Suns and Power tabling a three-year deal. There isn’t a link to speak of just yet between Fiorini and the Dees, but given the hole that Petracca leaves in their on-ball brigade, a player of his prowess would fit in very well. One to watch?

Bailey Humphrey

Outside of Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson, this would probably be the dream acquisition for the Demons in any trade involving Petracca. It’s very hard to see Gold Coast willing to part with their young gun, but you can bet your bottom dollar that if the Suns and Melbourne sat down to discuss any trade, his name would come up from Melbourne’s side of the fence. A versatile 21-year-old with a strong contested mark to complement his inside-and-out game, this guy is going to be a serious player — which is why it’s hard to see the Suns budging. Humphrey signed a four-year contract extension in 2023, seeing him locked in at Carrara until the end of 2028.

Ben King

As flagged with Adelaide’s Darcy Fogarty before, he’s the prototype key forward the club is crying out for — but given how far into discussions Melbourne are with Brody Mihocek, this seems a far-fetched connection. Having said that, King has been linked back to Victoria previously and is coming off a career-best 71-goal season in 2025. Can’t see it happening, but there’s enough merit to him being looked at by the Demons.