North Melbourne have quietly engaged the services of long-time football administrator Graeme "Gubby" Allan in an apparent move to help the club land players.
As the Kangaroos continue to be aggressive in pursuing out-of-contract players this year, the club has employed Allan - who was head of football at three clubs and is renowned for deal-making in the player marketplace - on a limited, part-time basis to act as a sounding board for the football department.
Graeme Allan is heading to North Melbourne.
Photo: Ben Rushton
Allan, who was suspended by the AFL for 12 months for his part in the Lachie Whitfield affair, has a connection to North Melbourne through Kangaroos coach Brad Scott, who has a relationship with "Gubby" from their days at the Brisbane Lions, where Allan served as the key lieutenant to Leigh Matthews and then Michael Voss.
It is understood that Allan's role with North is as part-time consultant and that he is being a paid only a small amount, the veteran administrator having left the game following his suspension in late 2016, shortly after he had been appointed to run Collingwood's football department.
North Melbourne, who made huge bids for both Greater Western Sydney superstar Josh Kelly and Richmond champion Dustin Martin last year, have continued to dangle significant deals to out-of-contract players this year. Unlike last year, the club's on-field performances makes it more attractive to players.
The colourful and affable "Gubby'' was involved in a number of the biggest and most contentious deals in football history, having delivered Nathan Buckley to Collingwood from the Brisbane Lions, Anthony Rocca to Collingwood (from Sydney) and he signed Tom Scully as a foundation GWS player on a stunning six-year, $6 million deal, while also netting co-captains Phil Davis and Callan Ward from Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs respectively.
As GWS football boss, Allan also completed the trade that led to star midfielder Adam Treloar leave the Giants and sign with Collingwood in exchange for two first-round picks, a deal that initially incensed Richmond, who, with North Melbourne, had been pitching for Treloar.
Allan and his then GWS welfare manager Craig Lambert were suspended by the AFL for 12 months for arranging for midfielder Lachie Whitfield to stay at Lambert's home, in what investigators believed was an attempt to avoid a potential drug test.
Whitfield was suspended for the first seven matches of 2017 by the AFL. The suspension forced Allan, who had engaged a lawyer to fight the case, to step down as head of football at Collingwood, where he had returned in 2016, at the behest of his close friend Eddie McGuire, at first to preside over the Magpies' AFLW and netball teams before he briefly replaced Neil Balme as football boss.
North have been pursuing a number of out-of-contract players, including free agents, and is expected to be a leading suitor for Kelly again when he comes out of contract next year. Allan has strong relationships with a number of influential player agents.
As the Kangaroos continue to be aggressive in pursuing out-of-contract players this year, the club has employed Allan - who was head of football at three clubs and is renowned for deal-making in the player marketplace - on a limited, part-time basis to act as a sounding board for the football department.
Graeme Allan is heading to North Melbourne.
Photo: Ben Rushton
Allan, who was suspended by the AFL for 12 months for his part in the Lachie Whitfield affair, has a connection to North Melbourne through Kangaroos coach Brad Scott, who has a relationship with "Gubby" from their days at the Brisbane Lions, where Allan served as the key lieutenant to Leigh Matthews and then Michael Voss.
It is understood that Allan's role with North is as part-time consultant and that he is being a paid only a small amount, the veteran administrator having left the game following his suspension in late 2016, shortly after he had been appointed to run Collingwood's football department.
North Melbourne, who made huge bids for both Greater Western Sydney superstar Josh Kelly and Richmond champion Dustin Martin last year, have continued to dangle significant deals to out-of-contract players this year. Unlike last year, the club's on-field performances makes it more attractive to players.
The colourful and affable "Gubby'' was involved in a number of the biggest and most contentious deals in football history, having delivered Nathan Buckley to Collingwood from the Brisbane Lions, Anthony Rocca to Collingwood (from Sydney) and he signed Tom Scully as a foundation GWS player on a stunning six-year, $6 million deal, while also netting co-captains Phil Davis and Callan Ward from Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs respectively.
As GWS football boss, Allan also completed the trade that led to star midfielder Adam Treloar leave the Giants and sign with Collingwood in exchange for two first-round picks, a deal that initially incensed Richmond, who, with North Melbourne, had been pitching for Treloar.
Allan and his then GWS welfare manager Craig Lambert were suspended by the AFL for 12 months for arranging for midfielder Lachie Whitfield to stay at Lambert's home, in what investigators believed was an attempt to avoid a potential drug test.
Whitfield was suspended for the first seven matches of 2017 by the AFL. The suspension forced Allan, who had engaged a lawyer to fight the case, to step down as head of football at Collingwood, where he had returned in 2016, at the behest of his close friend Eddie McGuire, at first to preside over the Magpies' AFLW and netball teams before he briefly replaced Neil Balme as football boss.
North have been pursuing a number of out-of-contract players, including free agents, and is expected to be a leading suitor for Kelly again when he comes out of contract next year. Allan has strong relationships with a number of influential player agents.
