The manager of North Melbourne free agent Cameron Zurhaar has shut down suggestions one of the New South Wales AFL clubs have expressed an interest in his client this year.
Zurhaar's name has been raised as a reported target for the Swans, with questions put to Mac's Sports Productions agent and former Richmond and GWS star Brett Deledio as to whether either GWS or Sydney had contacted him in regards to Zurhaar's services.
The Kangaroos forward is set to hold off on a decision on his future until later into the year, looking to see the growth and trajectory of the club before deciding to either recommit or exercise his options via free agency.
The Western Australian's reported interest from up north came as a surprise to Deledio, who toldย ABC Sportย this week that there was "no justification" to the speculation.
"I have not received one phone call from anyone at the Giants, nor Sydney," Deledio said.
"I don't know where this story has come from. I had [7 Newsย reporter Mitch Cleary] give me a buzz and I knocked that on the head straight away. That was two weeks before the (9 News) story came out.
"I haven't heard anything. Nobody has contacted me in regards to Cam. So [the report] has been thrown out there with no justification."
When questioned on his client's decision-making, Deledio noted Zurhaar is keen to find success on-field in the near future and hopes it comes in the blue and white.
With the Roos home to one of the more promising lists in the league, an improved 2024 campaign at Arden Street could be the deciding factor for the 25-year-old.
"He's looking forward to hopefully winning a few more games. He's won 25 of out of those first 99 that he's played," Deledio added.
"Let's hope the promise the Roos are showing eventuates and they start to win some games of footy.
"The state of play is that he's contracted this year. I'm just going to play a very straight bat here; he's waiting to see improvement and what the growth is (at North Melbourne). I'm not saying they have to be 6-0 to start the year, but you want to see that the wheels are starting to move.
"Some things [at their first practice match against Collingwood] suggested to me that they're starting to move the ball quicker and that he'll get a lot of looks up forward. He's got big [Nick Larkey] down there with him and Paul Curtis who's a really good option.
"A couple of young players who will go through the midfield; Tommy Powell and Charlie Lazzaro. Colby McKerhcer and Harry Sheezel, as if you wouldn't want to lead to those two young guns.
"Things are looking up but it's going to be a slow burn."
Zurhaar fronted media on Thursday ahead of his 100th match for North Melbourne, with questions over his future directed at the Roos livewire.
The Melville junior said it was "pretty ridiculous" that questions were being asked on his future before the season proper had gotten underway.
"I'm really happy at the club at the moment, I can't fault it at all. I just want to play the best footy I can and hopefully we play finals soon," Zurhaar said.
"We haven't even played Round 1 yet and we get these questions. It is pretty ridiculous to me. I know it is going to happen, it happens every single year and I'm just the subject this year."
Zurhaar and the Kangaroos will face GWS at Engie Stadium on Saturday at 4:35pm (AEDT) in their season opener.
