Braydon Preuss won’t be the only player to be traded from Melbourne this year, with Oscar McDonald likely to be looking for a new home as well.
McDonald, 24, remains unsigned for next season and is facing an uncertain playing future.
It’s understood a new deal to stay at Melbourne was sounding positive earlier this year, but the Demons’ enthusiasm has since faded.
Melbourne this time last year preferred McDonald to Sam Frost, who was traded to Hawthorn, but he has since been squeezed out of Simon Goodwin’s back six. McDonald played only seven games this season.
Adam Tomlinson was recruited to play wing, but has instead settled in defence. With Steven May and Jake Lever the pillars in the Melbourne backline, it appears McDonald has become surplus to requirements.
While he is out of contract, McDonald is not a free agent and a rival club would need to trade for him after 81 games in six seasons in red and blue.
Oscar’s brother Tom McDonald has also been the subject of trade speculation, but is set to stay at Melbourne where he still has two years to run on a contract.
It’s believed Tom has vowed to change his body shape in a bid to recapture the form as a key forward that helped the Demons make the 2018 preliminary final.
In an attempt to add strength and avoid getting pushed off the ball, he lost his athleticism and gut-running ability to get up and back. He will now work to strip weight over summer.
Preuss, 25, has attracted interest from GWS who are doing their research on the hulking ruckman, while Sydney is also in the conversation.
The Giants have queries about Preuss’ ability to cover the ground and spread. He is a monster of a man at 206cm and 114kg.
Preuss has two years to run on a contract at Melbourne, but Luke Jackson appears to have gone past him as a back-up to Max Gawn.