Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy has warned clubs not to sacrifice too much draft capital in their quest to sign Fremantle’s Adam Cerra.
The out-of-contract midfielder has a lucrative four-year deal on the table from the Dockers as he continues to weigh up his future.
Healy thinks Cerra is worth one first-round draft pick and nothing more in a trade.
“What Essendon has shown and what the Swans have shown is that you are one or possibly two really good years of drafting away from becoming a really good side again – if you get it right,” Healy told Sportsday.
“If you’ve got the right coach and you’ve got all the jigsaw pieces in place off the field, if you can nail the draft one or two years in a row – you can do what the Bombers and Swans have done.
“Here’s the lesson: Never ever give away two draft picks for a midfielder or a key position player.
“He would have to be Patrick Dangerfield-esque, or Jonathan Brown-esque, or Matthew Lloyd-esque.
“If you’re going to get Adam Cerra, that’s fine, Adam Cerra’s a good player, but the kid that’s 17 or 18 within two years may just be as good as Adam Cerra.
“I’d give away one first rounder (for Cerra).”
Cerra has been linked to Carlton and Richmond throughout the year.
The 21-year-old has played 75 games for Fremantle since he was selected with pick No.5 in the 2017 National Draft.
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