Should Dees make an offer for the game's most improved player?

Garry Lyon agrees that Jake Waterman would be a great recruit for Melbourne, as reports emerge that the Eagle would consider a move, despite being contracted for 2025.

The 26-year-old has kicked 44 goals from 16 games this season and has emerged as one of the breakout stars of 2024.

It was reported in the West Australian that Waterman is currently on less than $500,000 a season, with his manager wanting to renegotiate with West Coast, as Tom Morris outlined this morning.

“There’s a contract negotiation going on right now with West Coast because his form is so good that the Demons are interested in him,” Morris told SEN Breakfast.

“He’s probably the most improved player in the AFL.

“Clubs are going to be more inclined to take a risk. There’s more money than ever before and especially when you can trade draft picks two years in advance likely this year.”

Lyon admits that it would be a risk given Waterman hasn’t performed across multiple seasons yet, but says the Dees should be interested.

“He’s a full-forward that can kick 50-60 goals, it would be nice (for Melbourne),” Lyon said.

“When Oscar Allen came back into the side he went straight back to the goal square and Waterman went a bit higher, and he played his best footy deeper.

“Would you be confident enough to throw a big contract at a player who has had one good year? Are clubs more inclined to take a risk?

“I think Kane wants to see a little bit more from Waterman before he negotiates for more money.”

Kane Cornes, however, called out Waterman and his manager for pushing the club so soon after signing a new deal.

“Waterman wants to cash in on his career-best form by renegotiating the contract he signed last year,” Cornes told SEN’s Sportsday.

“He re-signed at the end of until the end of 2025 at the end of last year in a deal that he's believed to be worth around $400,000-450,000 a season, which takes him to free agency.

“Why have we all of a sudden got players who play 10 good games, and they go, ‘You know what that contract I signed only six months ago, I want that ripped up because I’m in really good form and I want you to pay me this’?

“Can I tell you some facts here? Waterman is 26, he’s not a young player. He’s never even been All-Australian squad-worthy. He's never won the best and fairest. He's never played more than 20 games in a season. He played 11 games last year – he suffered from that serious illness, which sounded horrific,” Cornes said.

“But the Eagles still signed him to a two-year contract extension and did the right thing by him.

“You didn't hear them beating down Jake Waterman's manager's door, asking for money back because he had hardly played or had hardly performed for the previous six years of his career.

“The minute he plays two-thirds of a good season, he cries poor, and he wants a new deal and I'm assuming he wants a new multi-million-dollar deal.”

Geelong is the other team reportedly interested in Waterman.