Trade talk: King realistic about Sparrow's free agency decision

Melbourne coach Steven King is remaining realistic about Tom Sparrow’s future at the club.

The in-form midfielder is out of contract this year and will become an unrestricted free agent if he does not sign on with the Demons.

South Australian native Sparrow has interest from Port Adelaide and the longer it drags on the more chance he is of departing, which King acknowledges.

But the Dees coach would love to keep Sparrow in red and blue beyond 2026.

“I’m still optimistic because I know Tom as a person and a character, but also the way he’s playing for us,” King said on SEN Breakfast.

“I’m also realistic as well knowing for each week it drags on the potential or possibility of him exploring and seeing what’s out there becomes more real.

“I don’t stay up at night stressing about it, but what I want to do is keep doubling down on our environment and giving Tom the opportunity to be his best version of himself, and play the best footy he can.

“I’m actually thrilled the way he’s handling it and how he’s performing for us. The way I watch games back and see him live at training every day, around the place, and the way he plays, I’d say he’s 100 per cent committed to our footy club. As a coach that’s all I can ask for.

“At the moment with the way he’s handling himself and the player and person he is, he’s fully invested in us this year.

“If I got the phone call today saying he’d recommit I’d be the happiest coach in Australia. So fingers crossed, what he’s doing for us week to week is incredible.”

Nerves building around free agency call

SEN’s Tom Morris believes nerves are building at the Dees around the retention of free agent Sparrow.

While the club was recently confident that the 26-year-old would re-sign, Morris says negotiations are now moving at a snail’s pace as Port begins to circle.

Morris expects Sparrow to receive a significant offer to return home with the Power. If he were to remain at the Demons, it would be on less money than he’d receive at Alberton.

Morris thinks that the next 10 days will be crucial in Sparrow’s decision, with Port Adelaide entering the frame the longer the wait continues.

“There are a few nerves around Tom Sparrow,” Morris told SEN Breakfast.

“Melbourne's been confident for a while and hopeful for a while, but this negotiation has moved at snail’s pace now for the last few weeks as Port Adelaide, in particular, circle.

“If he does stay, he's going to stay on less money than what Port is offering, so he's just going to have to give up a bit, it's just a matter of what that gap is.

“It’s a big sort of seven to 10 days, I reckon. I think if there's not any significant movement in the next week or week and a half, then he's probably going.

“So, Melbourne supporters need to be watching pretty closely in the next week or week and a bit, just to see if there's any acceleration in his discussions and potentially signature.

“If we get to the end of the year, then I don't think he's going to stay at Melbourne.”

Kane Cornes is someone who thinks the Demons shouldn’t budge on their offer, even with Port putting up a large sum.

He discussed what he thinks the 137-gamer is worth on the open market.

Cornes: “I said this last week, Melbourne don't need to overpay for him.”

Morris: “What do you think he’s worth, Kane?”

Cornes: “I think he's a $750,000 to 800,000 a year player. He's a limited player who's had a good season, but you're not overpaying him. Some of the numbers I've heard for him are ridiculous.

“I think Melbourne's got to hold firm. At times, you just have to lose them, and this may be one of those ones.”

Sparrow is an unrestricted free agent, meaning Melbourne can’t match any bid on his services from a rival club.