Newly-appointed North Melbourne Coach Alastair Clarkson has added more fuel to the AFL offseason, revealing that he's already "crossed paths" with "one or two" rival players.
Speaking frankly, and often with a smile or a laugh, Clarkson was honest about the kind of player his club needed.
"We need a couple of guys amid that 27, 28-year-old bracket probably," the newly appointed Shinboners steward told Fox Footy's 'On The Couch'.
"But having said that, some of the guys like Corr, McKay, even Larkey, these guys that are sort of mid-20s and in a couple of years they’re gonna be your 26-year-olds, (are) the guys you build your club around."
When asked whether Bradley Hill was an option for the Kangaroos, Clarkson gave a cheeky response: "I think Hilly would look alright in blue and white."
With the 29-year-old reportedly assessing his options after a disappointing season at St Kilda, Hill could join his old coach in the North Melbourne rebuild via trade.
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Hawthorn's Luke Breust is another who could join his ex-coach at Arden Street. While contracted for next year, the veteran small forward has been attracting attention from rival clubs heading into the trade period.
A veteran presence at North Melbourne could be exactly what the young playing list needs, with their prized no.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis seemingly lacking direction and guidance in his first season.
While Clarkson said he hasn't gone into "great depth" with potential recruits, he also shed light on how early AFL trade deals are made.
"The managers and the agents and the players are all doing a hell-of-a-lot of talking much, much before it starts to be speculated about whether they’re gonna change," he said.
"That trade period, despite a little bit of haggling; most of the deals are usually done well before the trade period starts."
North fans will be hoping their premiership-winning coach has already turned some of those discussions in their favour, with an important few years ahead of the club.