MELBOURNE wants to keep hold of versatile tall Cam Pedersen and hopes to add more big man depth during the upcoming NAB AFL Trade Period, football manager Josh Mahoney says.
Pedersen signed a one-year contract extension in September 2016 and the 28-year-old will soon be offered a fresh deal.
The 193cm former rookie averaged 14 touches and four hit-outs in nine games this season, and gives the Demons some flexibility by playing in attack and pinch-hitting in the ruck.
"We would expect Cam to be here next year and we'll offer him a contract," Mahoney said.
"He played a role for us and we think that, along with the development of Sam Weideman, he's going to be an important player for us moving forward."
With the trade period officially kicking off on Monday, the Demons are set to be part of a red-hot market for talls who can play multiple roles.
Richmond free agent Ty Vickery, injury-plagued Geelong big man Nathan Vardy and GWS youngster James Stewart are among the big men likely to find new homes in the trade period.
"Max Gawn's had a tremendous year as our first ruck and I think everyone's looking for that second ruck, whether that's a traditional forward who can go in the ruck or the other way around," Mahoney said.
"Jack Watts played that role this year, in an ideal world we don't want him playing that role.
"We've spoken to a few players but there's a lot of clubs in the market.
"In terms of where we sit with our trade position, our highest pick at the moment is 26, and we haven't got a first-round pick, so unless it involves players it's going to be hard to get some deals done during this period."
But Mahoney said locking away boom forward Jesse Hogan until 2019 would help the Demons sell themselves as a destination club.
"It is one of the earlier questions that a potential player asks is, 'What does your list look like in the next few years?'" Mahoney said.
"We've been able to put Jesse Hogan's name there – maybe with an asterisk – but now we can put it there and put it alongside Jack Viney, Clayton Oliver, Angus Brayshaw, Dom Tyson, Tom McDonald, Christian Petracca.
"It's a great list of young talent which we've been able to develop over the last few years and the most important thing now is to retain those guys, and we've focused on that this year."
