Fremantle have already made Cerra a significant offer,but sources familiar with the situation said his decision will be based on family – his partner is also from Melbourne – rather than money. It is likely that the Dockers would offer at least as much to Cerra as Carlton and the club is open to both two-year and longer-term deals with the 22-year-old midfielder.
Cerra favours Carlton over other Melbourne clubs despite the uncertainty surrounding the future of key figures at the Blues,including coach David Teague,and the outcome of the review,which is set to be presented to the board on Thursday.
For Carlton,Cerra would provide much-needed quality and support for outstanding midfielder Sam Walsh and skipper Patrick Cripps. Their lack of support for that pair has been exposed this season and in 2020 when the Blues have failed to make the finals.
Carlton are 13th and would have pick No.6 in the national draft based on the current ladder with two rounds remaining. The Dockers,who drafted Cerra at pick No.5 in the draft of 2017 and have seen him flourish and become one of their better players,are certain to demand more than that first-round selection if he chooses to return home.
Carlton may well need to jettison a player or players to find the room to accommodate Cerra. The Blues have some capacity,but do not have the same scope to pay an incoming recruit as North Melbourne,Essendon,Adelaide or Hawthorn.
Those four clubs are among the clear minority of teams that will enter the trade period with a reasonable amount of salary cap room.