“He’s someone we’re pretty keen to bring in and we think he deserves the opportunity.”
North Melbourne list manager Brady Rawlings discussed the Kangaroos’ off-season list strategy, including comments on the potential availability of GWS utility Nick Haynes as the club looks to add to its backline.
Haynes, out of favor with the Giants, could be available via trade. Recent reports suggest that GWS could draft Haynes in exchange for paying his hefty remaining wages.
On Monday morning, Rawlings discussed the possibility of signing overage players when asked if Haynes could be one player the club could target in the offseason.
Rawlings revealed the Roos could potentially examine the delisted free agency market as an avenue to bolster their backline also.
While North Melbourne will first look internally to see if they have the capital to continue through their rebuild without needing to acquire a new defender, Rawlings said the club is open to all of the player movement mechanisms.
“We’re in that space, there’s a few mechanisms,” he continued.
“At the draft this year we have got a few picks up pretty high, there’s potential there to fill spots.
“We have been looking at the DFA space as well. We’ve also been looking internally at our list as to who could potentially play back, and we think we’ve got a few options there.”
Rawlings surfaced Toby Pink’s name as one who is on North Melbourne’s radar following his strong 2023 season with SANFL premiers Glenelg.
Pink, who spent three years with Sydney across 2017-2019 and didn’t make an appearance at AFL level, was named at full-back in the SANFL Team of the Year following his strong campaign with the Tigers.
The Kangaroos had Pink on their books ahead of the 2020 VFL season before the COVID pandemic hit, with the 25-year-old soon deciding to head back to South Australia.
“Toby is one of those players we’ve been looking at,” Rawlings said.
“He’s been in the SANFL for three years now after his opportunity with Sydney, we actually signed him up as a VFL player before COVID hit, and then he went back to Glenelg.
“We’ve kept a close eye on him. We think his second half of this year in the SANFL has been outstanding. We think he’s a premier defender in the SANFL and now a premiership player at SANFL level.
“He’s someone we’re pretty keen to bring in and we think he deserves the opportunity.”
The Kangaroos could consider the key defender as a rookie selection either via November’s draft period or as a Supplemental Selection Period acquisition over the pre-season.
Delisted free agency will open on November 1, with a number of recently departed AFL names potentially in the Roos’ sights as well.
Among those looking for news clubs is cut Essendon swingman James Stewart, who was not offered a list spot at Tullamarine for 2024 despite having a year to run on his contract.
The Bombers confirmed the former Giant is looking for a new club, and may have some suitors through delisted free agency.
“James will move on. We won’t be offering him a list spot next year,” Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro said when questioned by Zero Hanger.
“We just think we’re going to be really tight for list spots. He’s contracted and will fulfil his contractual obligations, but there might be one or two other clubs that may give him an opportunity.”
Stewart, who stands at 197cm and 99kg, was utilised at both ends of the field during his time with the Bombers, where he played 60 games over seven years.
