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MELBOURNE has expressed interest in Greater Western Sydney's Tomas Bugg and Collingwood's Ben Kennedy as it targets "competitive players" in the 21-24 age bracket.
 
Demons football manager Josh Mahoney confirmed the club was looking to add Bugg, 22, and Kennedy, 21, to its squad in this year's trade period.
 
The Demons' list-management team has met with Kennedy, who has played 25 games in three seasons on the Magpies' list, about making a move down Swan St to Melbourne headquarters.
 
"We've sat down and spoken to Ben," Mahoney told NAB AFL Trade Radio on Tuesday.
 
"He'd be someone who we certainly think could help us as a club."
 
Bugg has played 65 games in four seasons for the Giants but wants to move home to Victoria.
 
"Through this trade period we want to add in guys who are in that 21-24-year-olds [age group] who have played a bit of footy," Mahoney said.
 
"He's another player we've got some interest in and again it depends on his involvement with GWS but he's someone we think can help us."
 
Bugg's manager, Tom Petroro, of Stride Sports, told SEN that Melbourne was right in the mix to win his client's services.
 
"I think they're a chance, definitely," Petroro said.
 
"I would think that Melbourne are right in the frame to try and get Tom and Tom has declared that he wants to come back to Victoria."
 
Mahoney said the Demons were well advanced in discussions with Essendon's Jake Melksham, who has also requested to move on from the Bombers, and would look to sort a trade out once the official player exchange period begins next Monday.
 
"We've done a lot of work on Jake and you can't have a better due diligence than having coaches who have worked with him previously in Simon Goodwin and Brendan McCartney (at Essendon)," Mahoney said.
 
"We want to add a bit of run and carry and a player who can play a half-back type of role.
 
"Jake has indicated that he wants to join Melbourne and during the trade period and we'll work on what that looks like."
 
In a wide-ranging interview, Mahoney also said:
 
·      Jeremy Howe was a chance to remain at Melbourne, with the club wanting a decision about whether he is staying or going in the coming days.
 
·      Unrestricted free agent Colin Garland will stay at the club, with the Demons to announce his re-signing in the next few days.
 
·      Jack Watts is unlikely to be traded by the Demons.
 
·      Former No.4 draft pick Jimmy Toumpas is looking at other playing opportunities but there is no guarantee he will leave Melbourne.
 
·      Speculation that Melbourne had offered free-agent Patrick Dangerfield a six-year, $10 million contract was off the mark, with the Demons not even tabling an offer to the midfield star.
 
·      Melbourne is looking to sign NAB Rising Star winner Jesse Hogan to a long-term deal.
 
·      The Demons have ruled out recruiting Gold Coast's Harley Bennell.
 
·      Melbourne's interest in Dion Prestia is not likely to progress further, with the midfielder to see out his existing contract, until the end of 2016, at Gold Coast.