MELBOURNE CEO Cameron Schwab has confirmed the Demons could match the offer in front of young star Tom Scully from Greater Western Sydney.
Scully is reported to have received an offer from the fledgling club of about $5 million over six years.
Schwab told Triple M radio that Melbourne was working hard to keep its young star.
"If we sought to - given the state of our salary cap, our Total Player Payments - we could pay the same as what Greater Western Sydney have offered, because we've got a young group as well," he said.
"We assume that this group is going to be the group for the next decade or so, so we need to make sure that all [players are looked after financially]."
Schwab said Scully, the No.1 pick in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft, was starting to find the speculation over his future frustrating.
"When you sit down with him, the first thing he says is, 'How come people don't believe me when I say what I say?'" Schwab said.
"And he's almost embarrassed by the fact, that somehow, as a second-year player, he would be seen as sitting in judgment of our football operations or our list management."