After the acquisition of Callum Coleman-Jones, North Melbourne looks set to call time on its 2021 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period, with the young ruck/forward the club’s primary target.
While the trade period is anything but straightforward, barring any late curveballs, North looks set to take its current raft of selections to the draft.
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GM of Football Brady Rawlings says the draft is the strongest way for the club to keep building its list.
“We did sniff around a couple of small-forwards in the lead-up to the trade period, but we’re in a position where we need to keep bringing in young talent through the draft,” Rawlings told SEN.
“We don’t want to compromise that. With pick one or pick 20, we want to bring in a couple of quality youngsters.
“If there was anything around that was a later pick for a small forward type we’d have a look at it, but I think we’re pretty comfortable with what we’ve done so far.”
A “quality small-forward type” who is currently on the trade table is 21-year-old Giant Bobby Hill.
After 25 goals in 30 games for GWS, Hill has requested a trade to Victoria, specifically Essendon, to be closer to his cousin and St Kilda player Brad Hill.
Rawlings says the club isn’t planning on moving for the young Giant.
“Bobby is a very quality small-forward, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.
“Where we’re at with bringing some youth through this year’s draft, that’s probably going to be our priority.
“Whoever Bobby does go to, whether he stays or goes somewhere else, is going to get a very good player, but we’ll probably use our draft picks.”
The trade period is a time of uncertainty for players all across the competition. With players having more freedom to move than ever, a number of players’ futures are still up in the air.
Like any other list, North currently has a handful of uncontracted players who are still uncertain about their immediate futures at the club, with decisions to be made in the coming weeks.
Rawlings says the unfortunate limbo they’re in is part of AFL football.
“We’ve got a few players who are wait and see at the minute, and it’s unfortunate for that group of players,” he added.
“It’s happening at most clubs at the moment, where you end up having a group of players you can’t quite commit to.
“We’ll see what happens in the next couple of days, work out our list spots going into the draft, and make some decisions on those players.”
