North Melbourne's original asking price for contracted ruck Tristan Xerri has been knocked back by St Kilda as the AFL trade period enters its final 48 hours.
Xerri, who played just eight senior games this year, requested a trade to Moorabbin last week citing lack of opportunity at the Kangaroos as his motivation to leave, per reports from AFL.com.au.
North have reportedly requested a future second-round pick in exchange for the ruckman, too steep a price for the Saints who are entering this year's draft shorthanded with just pick No.9 in the top 60.
Xerri, who stands 201cm tall, made his debut in 2020 and has since played 12 senior games after four years on the list. Prior to his senior recall in the latter half of 2021, Xerri was a dominant force in the VFL, finishing second in the club's best and fairest, despite a disrupted season.
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The Saints have so far rejected the Kangaroos' asking price, but are finding the ruck market growing slimmer as Trade Period nears its end. North seemingly won't take less for the 22-year-old, seeing him as a long term ruck prospect once Todd Goldstein hangs up the boots.
In an interview with SEN Mornings, North GM of Football Brady Rawlings confirmed that the club would a "very attractive" offer to consider parting with the young ruck.
โWe signed Tristan for a couple of years, so heโs got one more year to go,โ Rawlings said.
โGiven heโs in contract, heโs very much a required player for us.
โWe played him for half the year this year and he was the dominant player in the VFL when he wasnโt playing AFL, I think he was 20 votes ahead in our VFL best and fairest before he started playing AFL.
โHeโs come along really well, Tristan. Heโs a competitive ruckman, he follows up at ground level and stands down the line and takes a grab.
โWeโve got no real interest in losing Tristan at all, but he has requested a trade. It would have to take something very attractive for us to even consider it.โ
Trade period officially ends at 7:30pm EST on Wednesday October 13.
