North Melbourne midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke has addressed his future following recent speculation surrounding the contracted Kangaroo, with the explosive ball winner having "no doubt" an extension will come, but it may not be this year.
Davies-Uniacke is signed at Arden Street until the end of next season when he will be eligible for free agency and could consider his options at a time when he is expected to be in the sights of a long list of rivals should he remain unsigned.
Reports of incoming external interest have already surfaced this season, with St Kilda and Adelaide viewed as the likely sides to make a move for the former Pick 4 selection.
North Melbourne's drought-breaking win over West Coast on Saturday was Davies-Uniacke's 19th victory in 97 games in the blue and white, with the 25-year-old having won more than four games in a single season just once since joining the club in 2017.
The desire for success will likely be a factor in Davies-Uniacke's decision-making, but any call on his future is unlikely to come in 2024.
Speaking onย 3AW,ย the Rye product said his focus is currently on his football as he wants to help his club return to finals contention.
"To be honest, I haven't really thought about contracts as of yet. I'm not really thinking about it too much," he said.
"I'm just putting all my energy into the playing group and the club. I want to see this club get better and I want us to start winning. We only just got a taste for it on Saturday, that's where my headspace is at.
"No doubt that my manager and the club can be talking next year, I've got no doubt they'll get something done.
"I'm not really in the headspace or really thinking about contracts because I wouldn't be doing justice to my teammates. So I'm putting all my energy and focus into the team right now.
"I'm loving playing for North and rocking up every day to Arden Street."
Davies-Uniacke looms as one of the biggest names in the game set to come off-contract next year, with the likes of Marcus Bontempelli, Oscar Allen, Andrew Brayshaw, Chad Warner and Tom Lynch each having decisions to make on their next deals over the coming 18 months.
The Kangaroos have managed a successful retention period so far this year, having secured Tom Powellย (2026),ย Harry Sheezelย (2030),ย Tristan Xerri (2029) and Kallan Dawson (2025) to new deals already in 2024.
The battling club does have a suite of players still yet to recommit beyond this season, with Will Phillips, Bailey Scott, Curtis Taylor and restricted free agent Cameron Zurhaar among the list of North Melbourne players still off-contract.
