Exciting ruck-forward Callum Coleman-Jones has joined North Melbourne, after the completion of a trade with Richmond on Friday.
As part of the deal, North will also receive picks 42, 47 and the Tigers’ 2022 fourth-round pick.
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Richmond receives pick 40 in this year’s draft and a 2022 second-round selection, while former North vice-captain Robbie Tarrant also officially joins the Tigers for the 2022 season.
Taken with the 20th selection at the 2017 NAB AFL Draft, Coleman-Jones is coming off the back of his most successful AFL season to date, playing eight matches across 2021.
North Melbourne GM of Football Brady Rawlings said the 200cm big man, who kicked four goals in just his second career game against Adelaide in round 11 this year, would be a valuable addition to the club’s young brigade of talls.
“We identified Callum as a player who could really help us, not only as support for ‘Goldy’ (Todd Goldstein), but also for Nick Larkey and our forward group,” Rawlings said.
“He was starved of opportunities in a really successful side at the Tigers and he was heavily courted elsewhere, so we were thrilled he picked us as his preferred destination.
“He’s aggressive, is a really good runner and he’ll be a real handful for any opposition with his reach and power. We’ve landed a good one.”
The club will now take a strong draft hand into the last days of the Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period, which finishes on Wednesday.
“At this stage, we’ll head to this draft with picks one, 20, 42 and 47. We expect those later two picks to slide up a fair few spots with Collingwood and the Bulldogs matching bids on Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy, so we’re really looking at four selections inside the first 41 or 42 picks,” Rawlings said.
“That gives us some flexibility to either move up the order or take four really good players in the draft. The recruiters have done a power of work on this group, so either way we’re in a really good spot.”
Although the club was disappointed to see fan-favourite Robbie Tarrant depart the Roos after 174 games, Rawlings said he goes with the club’s blessing.
“Given Robbie’s service we were keen to get a deal done that found him his preferred home. Again, it’s sad to see Robbie go, but he leaves the club as a Shinboner and we’ll welcome him back when his days at the Tigers are done.”
