North Melbourne’s bold play for aggrieved Swans defender Nick Blakey could cost them in other ways as the Kangaroos close in on finally luring a big-name star.
Blakey’s manager, Robbie D’Orazio, informed the Swans on Friday morning that his contracted client, an All-Australian two years ago, was requesting a trade to North, where his father John played in the 1996 and 1999 flags.
The half-back flanker made his call after the Roos presented him with a lucrative eight-year offer worth well more than $1 million annually, but the complication is he still has five seasons left on his Sydney deal.
The Saints reportedly offered as many as three first-round picks to try to convince the Swans to trade Blakey to them, but could not earn the player’s commitment. However, that offer could force North Melbourne to pony up a strong package.
Gold Coast, Geelong and Essendon also showed varying levels of interest in Blakey, although the Cats effectively ruled themselves out once they sent their first-round pick this year to St Kilda on Thursday for Rowan Marshall.
Outside the Bombers’ top pick, which they stated they were highly unlikely to move, the Kangaroos’ No.5 pick was the best single trade chip of the clubs chasing Blakey.
The draft picks
North Melbourne would have some great options if they took pick five to the draft, including the ability to snare the best key defender, widely considered to be South Australia’s Mitch Harris.
That is the Roos’ greatest positional need, and why they are so desperately hoping to convince Adelaide to trade contracted backman Nick Murray.
However, if North offload the No.5 selection in any Blakey-related deal, including potentially “splitting” it to gain multiple picks, there would be even greater urgency to secure Murray because their next-best selection this year is not until 45.
Essendon will bid on Port Adelaide’s next-generation academy prospect Dougie Cochrane at No.1, while GWV Rebels midfielder Ethan Drever is believed to be the frontrunner for Essendon’s “live” pick once the Power match them to snare Cochrane.
As per new AFL rules, that bid would also trigger start-of-second-round selections for all the bottom five clubs, including the Kangaroos – but only if they retain their first pick.
North Melbourne would give up the chance for that extra second-round selection if they trade the No.5 choice, so that must be baked into this. They had dangled their future first-round pick in early negotiations for Murray, but that may need to be part of any Blakey package, so this gets complicated quickly.
Richmond, West Coast and the Roos would be next in line in the draft after the Bombers once the Cochrane bid occurs.
Port Adelaide have agreed to trade their No.4 pick as part of an extensive five-club mega deal that will score them, among other assets, the sixth and 10th selections in next month’s draft, if the AFL approves it.
The Power are also poised to accept pick five as compensation for losing restricted free agent Zak Butters. They would use that with the No.6 selection to match the Cochrane bid, while still retaining a first-round presence.
Father-son and academy talents Cody Walker (Carlton), Ethan Matthews (GWS Giants) and Caylen Murray (Brisbane Lions) could all attract top-10 bids, but let’s ignore them for this exercise.
There are no extra compensation picks up for grabs with further bids.
Gifted Sandringham Dragons pair Arki Butler and Gus Teixeira, Northern Knights’ generational ruckman Harry Van Hattum and silky West Australian Heath Mellody are all likely to be in contention at the Tigers’ pick, on the assumption Drever is already gone.
If Mellody makes it to the Eagles, rival recruiters think they would strongly consider selecting the local teenager who produced a brilliant draft year, headlined by winning the Larke Medal at the AFL under-18 championships.
Regardless, two of Butler, Teixeira, Van Hattum, Mellody and Drever would be on the board for the Kangaroos, and almost certainly Harris and fellow highly rated key defensive prospects Clancy Snell and Tyson Bradley.
The Nick Murray pursuit
North Melbourne list boss Brady Rawlings has remained steadfast that pick five would not be part of any proposal for Murray, who is eager to join the Roos on a five-year deal.
The Crows hold the whip hand in discussions because Murray has two seasons left on his contract.
They lost fellow tall backman Jordon Butts in unrestricted free agency to the Western Bulldogs, which made Adelaide’s stance even firmer.
North’s future first-round selection has long been expected to form the basis of any Murray deal, so it remains to be seen whether that will still be the case if Blakey wants to join the Roos, and the Swans want far more than just the No.5 pick.
It leaves the potential scenario that North Melbourne going all-in on Blakey means they might not be able to secure Murray and won’t have a high-enough selection to draft one of the best three teenage key defenders.
That is why the Roos are canvassing other clubs to see if they can split pick five into multiple assets that could still appease Sydney, while ensuring they have something appealing left to give Adelaide for Murray.
Rawlings and co. will have to weigh all this up as they try to complete the type of recruiting splash that has mostly eluded them.
They must also be across the alleged Pullman Hotel incident that Blakey and fellow Swans were embroiled in. No charges have been laid, but a Victoria Police investigation of sexual assault allegations is ongoing.
All five players involved deny criminal wrongdoing. One of them, Riley Bice, was cleared and is being treated as a potential witness.
Ultimately, the Kangaroos must decide whether the pros outweigh the cons in their longer-term list build under new coach Jaymie Graham.
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