Melbourne hope Fremantle youngster Harley Balic can play as a lead-up forward after handing Fremantle selection 66 to secure the 20-year-old who wanted to return to Victoria.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Balic's addition to the list comes less than 24 hours after Melbourne traded former No.1 draft pick Jack Watts to Port Adelaide for selection 31 after nine years at the club and agreed to pay part of his salary.
The Demons will take three second-round picks into the national draft after trading two first-round picks last week to secure gun defender Jake Lever who left Adelaide after three seasons.
Balic played just four games with the Dockers after being taken with selection 38 in the 2015 national draft.
A wrist injury ruined his first season but he returned late in the year to play in a flag with Peel Thunder and then he made his debut against the Western Bulldogs in round three this season.
However after four games with the Dockers he indicated a need to return to Victoria to be with family and the Dockers granted him leave mid-season to enable him to get home.
They also facilitated his trade with Melbourne with the two clubs agreeing to trade him for a late pick.
Melbourne have been keen on Balic since his draft year with football manager Josh Mahoney telling melbournefc.com.au they were impressed with his consistency.
"He's a good size for a midfielder and has good spatial awareness - he comes from a basketball background. He can add some depth to our mid/forward half and has the ability to kick goals," Mahoney said.
