Elite AFL Draft fancy Ryley Sanders has officially seen his bid to join North Melbourne's Next Generation Academy approved, with the league announcing its ruling on the matter on Thursday.
In a protracted process, evidence of Sanders' Indigenous heritage has seen him meet the markers to join the Shinboner's Tasmanian zone.
Yet, as reported by AFL Media's Callum Twomey, Sanders' newly minted ties to the Roos do not rule out the prospect the teenager could be playing elsewhere in 2024.
Despite earning NGA access to the Tasmanian, at present, North Melbourne will only obtain Sanders for next season should the Sandringham Dragon make the unlikely slide outside of the draft's top 40 selections.
As stated by Twomey, the Roos are still yet to learn whether they will receive priority access to Sanders' signature, with the AFL Commission set to make a final ruling during grand final week.
A ruling in the Roos' favour would see the club able to match any bid for Sanders at any stage of the draft.
Throughout the course of his four games four the Allies this season, Sanders had the ball on a string, averaging 35.5 disposals, 5.75 inside 50s, 5 clearances and a goal-per-game, numbers strong enough to see the Tasmanian claim the 2023 Larke Medal, awarded to the best player at the national under-18 championships.
Sanders will earn the opportunity to further emboss his resume when his Dragons do battle against Eastern Ranges in the 2023 Coates League Grand Final at Ikon Park this Sunday.
North Melbourne currently holds picks 2, 14, 39, 51, 59 and 76 at November's draft.