Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has offered an emphatic response to trade rumours speculating that premiership Demon Bayley Fritsch is unlikely to be with the club beyond the current season.
Fritsch has been tipped to leave the Demons this coming off-season despite having a contract with Melbourne until the end of 2026.
The rumours surrounding the 28-year-old come as the Demons reportedly look to 'transition' their list, which could entail parting with valuable senior players for high-end draft picks.
Quizzed on the speculation surrounding Fritsch's future, Goodwin stated the agile forward holds a key role in the club's long-term planning, denying the idea of looking to 'tip players out' for younger options.
"I'm not sure where they came from. That's certainly not the case," Goodwin said.
"I've spoken a lot about our group and how we're transitioning, and we've been able to do that through the draft the last three years. A part of the transition into the team we want to be is that we need experience.
"Bayley is a big part of our future. He's a big part of what success will look like for us moving forward. So (parting with Fritsch) is certainly not the path we're on. We're on the path of attracting as many players (as we can) to our footy club, and want to be a part of it, and keep our senior players, who are really important to growing the younger players to get our next team.
"This isn't about tipping players out and bringing new players in, this is about solidifying the group we've got and adding to it, because we want success as soon as possible."
Fristch's might not be the only Demon with fascination surrounding his future, with star midfield pairing Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver also seen as a watch for the off-season after the duo weighed up heading elsewhere in 2024.
Goodwin believes the club is in a "really, really strong position" compared to a year ago, believing the club is looking to add talent to its "growing" list, rather than see senior players depart.
"We're not sure what will happen in that space, we're in a mindset of getting better," Goodwin said.
"At the end of the year, we'll sit down and work through what all of that looks like. We feel as a footy club we're very stable, off the field and now on the field, from 12 months ago.
"We feel like we're in a really, really strong position to make some really good and strong decisions moving forward.
"100 per cent (we're in a better place than we were 12 months ago). Results aren't everything, but where we're growing as a club and a team... we're stable and the team is starting to really progress together."
Petracca and Oliver are on deals through to the cessation of the 2029 and 2030 seasons, respectively.
Pressing retention targets for the Demons' list team include unsigned Western Australian Judd McVee and young backman Blake Howes, while veteran Jake Melksham also remains off-contract amid career-best form.
Melbourne have managed two key re-signings this season, locking in livewire Kysaiah Pickett to the longest deal in the competition, through to the end of 2034, and premiership backman Steven May for next year.
