Melbourne’s newest recruit Brody Mihocek has been praised for “seeing the light” amid his move away from Collingwood, as questions emerge over his former club’s ageing list profile.

The 2023 Magpies premiership player was officially traded to the Demons alongside pick 71 on Friday morning, in exchange for pick 61 and a future third-round pick.

Speaking on Trading Day, Fox Footy reporter Jon Ralph labelled the move one of the off-season’s great wins in favour of Melbourne before revealing what Mihocek said to him personally on the move.

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“This could be the value pick of the trade period; it’s effectively (for) a third-rounder,” Ralph began

“He admits that he was floored by the modest one-year offer that came his way from Collingwood late in the season. He just couldn’t get his head around the fact that, if it was that he signed what eventually became a two-year deal, that would be it — his career would be done in 24 months.

“(He) was brutally honest about those contract conversations with Darcy Cameron, also with Jamie Elliott. They all looked around, and eventually they stayed.

“He said: ‘I know with the Pies list when I was going through my contract talks with them, they were worried about the age demographic. I know at 32, that’s not old. I wanted to tell them that, that I had many years left in me, and they still kept that narrative.”

The move sees the 159-gamer join young key forwards Jacob van Rooyen and Matthew Jefferson in the Dees’ attacking half, as well as veteran Jake Melksham who earned a one-year deal at the back end of the home-and-away season.

Ralph added: “I love this deal, I love the fact that he’s such a selfless footballer. And I think if you’re Jacob Van Rooyen, you’re thinking: ‘This is the player I need to become, and right now, he’s my wingman’.”

Mihocek looks to have been perhaps the unlucky victim of Collingwood’s ever-ageing list profile, who come March next year, will have at least nine players contracted for 2026 and beyond aged 30 or older.

Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Jeremy Howe — who have all long been an integral part of Collingwood’s recent success — will all be 35 and over come Round 1 in 2026.

“The age demographic (at Collingwood), he’s seen the cliff!” Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon said.

“Next year, after Pendlebury and Sidebottom make their decision, there will be a massive cliff in terms of their age demographic. So, he’s seen the light at Melbourne.”

St Kilda great Leigh Montagna added: “It’s going to leave a massive hole in Collingwood’s forward line … it allowed Jamie Elliott and (Dan) McStay to get a different match-up.”

The Magpies have been heavily linked to Sydney forward Jack Buller this trade period, while veteran premiership player Mason Cox remains in limbo for a one-year extension at the club.