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How will Roos leap forward? North heavy-hitters speak with AFL on draft help
By Marc McGowan
September 12, 2023 — 5.11pmNorth Melbourne’s heavy-hitters met the AFL on Tuesday as D-Day arrives for a decision on their assistance package, including potential access to hotshot prospect Ryley Sanders.
Kangaroos chief executive Jennifer Watt, football boss Todd Viney and general manager of strategy and legal James Gallagher visited league headquarters for the latest conversation on how the AFL can help the club rise from the cellar.
North’s round 24 victory over Gold Coast meant they avoided a third consecutive wooden spoon but was just their 10th win in their past 82 matches across almost four seasons.
The Roos are still yet to lodge an official submission for assistance, according to sources familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to it being a private matter.
But that will happen in the days ahead, given the AFL commission would consider North Melbourne’s assistance request in grand final week, in a fortnight’s time. The league encouraged the Kangaroos to get creative with their submission for assistance, rather than simply asking for another high pick, which is what led to the Sanders idea.
The Age revealed in July that North were exploring options to gain access to Melbourne-based Tasmanian Sanders, who would otherwise be taken in the first seven or eight picks of this year’s draft.
The 18-year-old won the Larke Medal as the most outstanding player at the 2023 AFL Under-18 Championships. He has Aboriginal heritage on his grandmother’s side and would typically have been part of the club’s Next Generation Academy, but there were complications in him gaining official certification.
Sanders finally received his certificate of Aboriginality mid-year, but still does not appear on North’s NGA list. Current rules, which are under review, state clubs can match an opposition bid on one of their NGA prospects only if it comes from pick 41 onwards.
The AFL would need to grant the Roos special access to him, but if that happens, they are resigned to having to match a bid, rather than getting him for free, like Gold Coast did with their academy prospects as part of their assistance package.
Fuming rival clubs railed against North Melbourne gaining access to Sanders after The Age’s story.
The Kangaroos are strongly linked to Sydney’s Dylan Stephens and Carlton’s Zac Fisher, both of whom they would have to broker trades for. Another Swan on North’s radar, Lewis Melican, is expected to remain in the Harbour City.
Sydney’s exit meetings began on Tuesday.
Restricted free agent Ben McKay could also land North the No.3 pick as compensation, with the key defender choosing between the Swans, Hawthorn and Essendon. McKay’s camp has not given an indication to his suitors on when he will make a call.
Veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein, who played his 300th game this year, is a chance to end his career at the Bombers under old coach Brad Scott after Andrew Phillips’ retirement. He would join fellow big men Sam Draper and Nick Bryan.
The AFL gave the Roos modest help last year in the form of a future second and third-round pick, which needed to be used in a trade, and extra rookie-list spots. They used those selections to bring in Griffin Logue and Darcy Tucker from Fremantle.
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