Demons may try to cut Carlton’s grass on deal for Cerra
CARLTON will have to wait for several more weeks to secure Adam Cerra’s commitment as potential bidder Melbourne makes its premiership charge.
Cerra is in no hurry to decide his future, even as he is expected to nominate Carlton after the grand final given their ability to get him home to Victoria.
The Blues will remain nervous about Melbourne’s intent to pull off a trade heist for Cerra given their wide-open premiership window and his close friendship with Demons wingman Ed Langdon.
There is no rush for Cerra to make an official decision given the Blues, with the No. 6 draft pick, can trade that selection to the Dockers for Cerra.
The trade period starts on October 4, nine days after the September 25 grand final.
Carlton does not have a coach or chief executive, which adds to the uncertainty about its future.
The Demons have no plans to trade Luke Jackson and it is understood the key tall is happy to remain at the club that has him under contract until 2022.
So without a first-round pick, it would seem impossible for the Demons to get a deal done on Cerra given the Dockers would bank on their future first-rounder being closer to 20 next year.
The Demons would have significant appeal to Cerra if he could get there, but his priority is remaining closer to family and friends and he is accepting of the fact he needs to request a club that can broker that deal.
Meanwhile, Sydney accepted they will trade wingman Jordan Dawson to Adelaide or Port Adelaide after offering him a longterm deal of up to five years on extremely good money.
They had not offered restricted free agent George Hewett a contract, which meant he was destined to find his way to the Blues on a deal of up to four years.
He would have preferred to stay at Sydney had a deal been presented but had to consider rival offers.
With Dawson now leaving and clearing cap room, it remains to be seen whether the Swans would reconsider offering Hewett a new contract.