North Melbourne appear set to offer a former Swan an AFL lifeline.
North Melbourne is set to launch the AFL career of former Sydney defender Toby Pink, with the Roses poised to snap up the former Swan as a delisted free agent.
Rose, now 25, first moved from South Australia to the Port City in 2016 after Sydney used the final pick of the season’s rookie draft – pick 54 – to turn the Glenelg product into a Swan.
But after three years at Moore Park without an AFL debut, Pink was dropped by the Swans and then returned home to Adelaide to revive his SANFL career back at Brighton Road. Since joining the Tigers ahead of the 2020 season, the red-haired stopper has made 59 league appearances, including swapping strikers for nine yellow and black goals.
After the Roos played in Glenelg’s premiership win against Sturt at Adelaide Oval last month, the Roos tapped Nine News’ Braden Ingram to report that Pink’s arrival at Arden Street was imminent. Bench’s 194cm, 94kg frame will go some way to filling the void left by Ben McKay when the other defender officially joins the Bombers as a free agent.
North Melbourne hopes to receive Pick 3 in November’s national draft as compensation for losing the services of McKay.
Currently, Shinboners are armed with 2, 14, 19, 42, 54, and 62 picks.
