Hamish McIntosh says he has no hard feelings towards coach Dean Laidley
Glenn McFarlane | November 16, 2008 12:00am
NORTH Melbourne ruckman Hamish McIntosh says he holds no grudges after being offered as trade bait. Speaking for the first time since his name was put on the trade table, McIntosh said he had sorted things out with coach Dean Laidley and was looking forward to next year.
"I admit it was a real shock at the time," he said yesterday.
"Getting a phone call from 'Laids' (Laidley) was tough, but he didn't say I was going anywhere. He just said there was a bit of interest in me."
The 24-year-old was on the first day of the club's footy trip to Las Vegas when Laidley called to tell him his name had come up in trade talks.
"I honestly don't hold any grudges," he said. "It's one of those things that happens in football these days.
"I was disappointed when it happened, because never at any stage did I want to leave North Melbourne. I love the club.
"But that's the way the AFL goes. It is a bit of a business. You can't take things to heart."
McIntosh was one of three North players mentioned at trade time, along with midfielder Daniel Harris and forward Corey Jones.
All three will remain with the club next season.
"I've had my meetings with Laids and Donald McDonald (football manager). We've all had a good chat about it," he said.
"I've got a three-year contract and I want to stay here for the rest of my career.
"I'd love to stay and play with my mates at the footy club and, hopefully, play in premierships."
McIntosh endured a frustrating 2008, playing 14 games, but suffering a knee injury in Round 12. He returned for the last two home-and-away games, but was overlooked for the elimination final loss.
"I came back for the last two games, but my fitness wasn't up to scratch and my knee didn't feel too flash," he said.
McIntosh said he was fit and raring to go this pre-season and could not wait for the practice matches to start in February.
The 203cm ruckman narrowly missed All-Australian selection in 2007 and desperately wants to regain the No. 1 ruck mantle at North Melbourne next year.
"There's competition for us, which is good," he said. "You've got Drew (Petrie), who can play just about anywhere on the ground, David (Hale) can play centre half-forward, full forward or in the ruck, and Todd (Goldstein) is coming on in leaps and bounds.
"I want to keep my spot in the ruck. I think that's where I play my best footy."
McIntosh said the players were buoyed by the million-dollar profit the club announced this week, but said the fans still needed to get behind the Roos.
"It's great news about the profit, but we are nowhere near out of debt yet," he said.
"So, we need all those people who signed on to become members last season to do the same again."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24657435-19742,00.html