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A former North Melbourne No.3 pick to “assess his options” at season’s end: AFL Trade news

“Clubs around the competition think he’ll be assessing his options at season’s end to find a suitor where he might be able to play consistent senior football.”

Published by
Aidan Cellini

North Melbourne's Will Phillips is understood to be "assessing his options" come the end of the 2024 season.

Phillips - who was taken with Pick 3 in the 2020 Draft - has struggled to play consistent football for the underperforming Kangaroos side, falling behind the likes of Tom Powell, George Wardlaw and Harry Sheezel as the new crop in the midfield.

Speaking on AFL Media's Gettable, Riley Beveridge believes that the 22-year-old will be looking at rival clubs to continue his career as his second contract at North Melbourne comes to a close.

"There will be a top 3 pick assessing his options on the market at the end of the season and that's Will Phillips at North Melbourne," Beveridge said.

"Has played just three games all year... Hasn't played in the last month.

"Clubs around the competition think he'll be assessing his options at season's end to find a suitor where he might be able to play consistent senior football.

"Only 35 games across the last four years at North Melbourne.

"So certainly we think now that with Will Phillips coming to the end of his second contract at the Kangaroos will be assessing his options at year's end."

Phillips played 16 games in each of the 2021 and 2023 seasons, missing the entirety of the 2022 campaign due to glandular fever and subsequent health setbacks.

After an impressive year in 2023, the 22-year-old looked to build on his consistency but has struggled to cement a spot under coach Alastair Clarkson.

Rival clubs who could be interested in acquiring Phillips' services but not limited too would be Richmond, Hawthorn, Melbourne and West Coast.

Published by
Aidan Cellini