North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has challenged free agent Cameron Zurhaar to take the next step in his career ahead of a looming free agency call.
Zurhaar is able to assess his options across the competition at the cessation of this season, with Sydney already emerging as a reportedly interested suitor for the off-contract Roos forward.
Now in his eighth year in the blue and white, the club's 2020 leading goalkicker is yet to piece together "a full season of the best of Cam Zurhaar" according to his coach, who hopes the 25-year-old sees himself as a Kangaroo for the long haul.
Clarkson listed Zurhaar among several other teammates in needing to "step forward" amid the club's rebuild, calling on his more senior players to steer North Melbourne back up the ladder.
When questioned on Zurhaar's future ahead of the energetic forward's 100th game in Roos colours, Clarkson said he'd like to see the free agent enjoy a breakout 2024 campaign that could strengthen his chances of remaining at Arden Street.
"We're just really excited about what he brings to our footy club and we're hopeful he sees the club and the direction we're going is a place where he can play his best footy," Clarkson said on Tuesday.
"We're hopeful he can start playing his best footy. He's been in the system now for the best part of six or seven years, and he's a pretty influential player.
"He plays in a pretty unique type of way, but we're yet to see a full season of the best of Cam Zurhaar. If we see that, then we think we're going to have a pretty special player.
"[Zurhaar], Luke Davies-Uniacke, 'big X' (Tristan Xerri), Jaidyn Stephenson and CJ (Callum Coleman-Jones), there's a whole crew of guys that are sitting around the 24-25 years of age (bracket). Nick Larkey has stepped up in the last couple of years, there are other guys who have the capability to do that.
"If we're waiting for the younger players, the Duursmas, the McKerchers and Sheezels, if they're the future of the football club then they're going to be waiting a long time before we climb ourselves back up the ladder.
"We need this tier through the Cam Zurhaar bracket to actually take a step forward. We think that they've all got that capability. [Zurhaar] falls into that bracket well and truly, and he can be a really, really influential player. And if he is, we get better, he gets better and then everything sorts itself out in terms of contracts."
Zurhaar has booted 133 goals from his 99 games ahead of Saturday's trip to face GWS, with the Western Australian set to hold a key role in the front third of Clarkson's team alongside spearhead Nick Larkey and Round 1 debutant Zane Duursma.
Larkey is one of three North Melbourne players locked away to long-term deals, with Jy Simpkin and Harry Sheezel having also cemented their services to the Kangaroos until the end of this decade at the very least.
On top of landing Zurhaar's signature, the Roos will also be eyeing new deals for off-contract playersย Bailey Scott,ย Will Phillips,ย Tom Powellย andย Charlie Lazzaro, who are among at least 15 players without deals for 2025 at North Melbourne.
The Roos are set to have extra wiggle room with the recent exit of Tarryn Thomas, who was penned to a high-priced deal and was likely to be in line for a similar extension had his AFL fate taken a new direction.
