IT IS "highly likely" Melbourne willtrade its pick No.2 at the upcoming NAB AFL Draft, according to the club'sfootball manager Josh Mahoney.

Speaking to AFL.com.au's GilletteTrade Radio, Mahoney said the Demons wanted at least two and even threemature midfielders.

Having taken the likes of Jack Viney and JimmyToumpas at last year's draft and with young key forward Jesse Hogan set todebut next year, Mahoney said the Demons were after a player who had been inthe system for a few years, but who still had "eight to 10 years" offooty left in them.

He said a deal for the early pick would likelyinclude a player as well as draft picks.

"I think it's highly likely that it willbe [traded]," Mahoney said of the second overall pick.

"We've got a lot of young talent alreadyin our footy club and if the ability is to add an experienced person into ourfooty club well that's a big advantage for us right now.

"If we could add two to three experiencemidfielders ... they can come into the side and play alongside the alreadygroup of young talent we've got, that would be a successful period forus."

Mahoney said trade talks had not progressedwith Collingwood's Heath Shaw, although he said Melbourne had met with formerWestern Bulldog Daniel Cross, who is a free agent.

Mahoney said the club had done all it could tosecure 27-year-old midfielder Colin Sylvia, who is set to decide whether tostay with the Demons by the end of the week.

"We've done everything that has beenrequired to hold onto Col, now he's taken a bit of time to make hisdecision," Mahoney said.

"[We] expect an answer from Col in thenext couple of days.

"We see him as an experienced playerthrough the midfield, that's one thing that we still do need, there's a rolefor him to play but ... he's got to make a decision on where he finishes hiscareer."