The Demons have had the second round pick on the table for awhile, according to general manager of list management Tim Harrington, and won't entertain a deal that would see them swap pick 12 for the Roos' pick 17 as part of the negotiation.
"We're pretty clear with what we want and what we're willing to give," Harrington told afl.com.au's Trade Week Radio on Thursday. "We're saying at the moment that our second round pick is there for North to use, and we've said that all along.
"[David] is someone we started targeting awhile ago to fill some needs in our list so we've worked pretty hard at it.
"I think we've presented well to him and he's been receptive to what we've presented to him. So far, so good."
Harrington said the Demons, who are directly pitted against Hawthorn in the bid for the experienced big man, would not get emotionally involved in negotiations.
"We've got to worry about what we can do and what's best for us," he said.
"There's obviously competitive tension is all these deals but before you go into it, you've got to be very clear what your starting point and ending point might be.
"One thing that can happen is you can individually and collectively as a team and a club get caught up in the chase."
All up, Harrington said talks with the Kangaroos had been pleasing throughout the trade period.
He also says Hale will be an important addition to the Demons despite the fact he is unlikely to improve physically at the age of 26.
"I'm confident the role he could play for Melbourne would be something that would open his game up a bit more," he said.
"Melbourne is a team that doesn't kick a lot of front square crumbing goals and there's good reason for that.
"We're still a work in progress in our front half, we've got some outrageous talent and a lot of blokes who haven't played games together, but when it comes to a physical presence nought to 30m out from goal who our smaller blokes can fly in and feed off, that's not one of our strengths.
"That's what David would bring to us."
Harrington said the AFL's new substitute rule had increased the Demons' interest in recruiting the 129-game player.
He also said defender Matthew Warnock was a required player and not available for trade.
Follow our complete coverage of the 2010 AFL exchange period from October 5-11. No trades are official until paperwork has been accepted by the AFL and formally recognised after 2pm on Monday, October 11.
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