Melbourne’s list boss lifts the lid on the club’s negotiations with Hawthorn around Tayla Harris
Melbourne is confident that star forward Tayla Harris will accept a contract offer to remain with the Demons for the 2025 season, following the collapse of her trade to Hawthorn on Wednesday.
After two weeks of tense negotiations, AFL.com.au reported that the trade deal for Harris fell apart just after the 4pm AEDT trade deadline, as Hawthorn refused to move their pick No. 14 to secure the four-time All-Australian.
With the trade deal unsuccessful, Harris was left with the option to either accept the new contract offer from Melbourne, made last week, or delist herself and nominate for next Monday’s Telstra AFL Draft. However, Melbourne’s AFLW list manager Todd Patterson expressed confidence that Harris would remain with the Demons in 2025, stating, “I’m certain we’ll retain Tayla.” When asked if Harris had confirmed her decision, Patterson replied, “Yes.”
A number of trade proposals involving Tayla Harris were put forward during the Trade Period, including a complex seven-club deal last Thursday that would have facilitated trades for Harris and three other players. However, the deal was rejected by Hawthorn, who refused to move pick No. 14 to No. 20 to secure both Harris and Adelaide premiership defender Najwa Allen.
On Deadline Day, another four-club proposal was raised, involving pick swaps with Geelong and West Coast, but the talks stretched on and ultimately collapsed around lunchtime.
Melbourne’s AFLW list manager Todd Patterson reflected on the process, saying, “We worked tirelessly to try to improve our list and assist other clubs’ outcomes during this Trade Period. It’s unfortunate that things have transpired so publicly, but we sit really comfortably with how we have operated over the last week and a half.”
Harris had been seeking a move to her fourth club in eight years, with a preference for a trade to the much-improved Hawthorn, despite interest from Collingwood.
After an injury-ravaged 2024 campaign where Harris played just one game before suffering a season-ending shoulder issue, the Dees are now confident the goalkicking spearhead will return to her best next season.
“I think the best of Tayla Harris is still to come,” Patterson said.
“She’s one of the most resilient people that I’ve met and I know that if anybody can come through this and be their best, it’s Tayla. I have absolute certainty that, with the quality of people we have, no one is better placed to support her in that.”
Melbourne was part of a six-club deal last week that saw the club net picks No.2 and 20 in the upcoming national draft, parting with Lily Mithen to Gold Coast in addition to picks No.10, 28 and 46.
Hawthorn traded for Allen while losing Charlotte Baskaran to St Kilda, Lou Stephenson to the Western Bulldogs and Mattea Breed to Collingwood. The Hawks will now start the draft with picks No.14, 22 and 28.
Leave a Reply