North Melbourne's star midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke has postponed contract negotiations until the new year, signalling a desire to see tangible on-field improvement before committing his long-term future to the club.
The 25-year-old, who claimed his first Syd Barker Medal in 2024, is set to become one of the most sought-after restricted free agents at the end of next season.
Despite widespread interest from rival clubs, Davies-Uniacke has expressed his desire to stay at Arden Street but remains focused on seeing progress under head coach Alastair Clarkson.
Speaking to The Age, Davies-Uniacke's manager, Robbie D'Orazio of Connors Sports Management, confirmed the delay in negotiations.
โLuke loves the North Melbourne footy club, especially his teammates. He wants nothing more than to see improvement in 2025, and winning games is a big part of that,โ D'Orazio said.
The Kangaroos, who have struggled for consistent success, are coming off a three-win season that saw them finish second last on the ladder. However, the club remains optimistic about its future, bolstered by a young midfield core featuring George Wardlaw, Harry Sheezel, and recent top draft picks Colby McKercher and Finn O'Sullivan.
A club spokesperson noted that North Melbourne is comfortable with Davies-Uniacke's approach, emphasising that there is no timeline from their perspective.
Davies-Uniacke's 2024 campaign reaffirmed his status as one of the AFL's elite midfielders. Playing every game for the first time in his career, he averaged 27.7 disposals, 6.3 clearances, and polled 18 Brownlow votes, showcasing his ability to dominate against top-tier opponents.
Drafted with pick No. 4 in 2017, the Dandenong Stingrays product has become the cornerstone of the Kangaroos' rebuild. But with only 21 wins from 108 career games, the Rye native is eager for sustained team success.
As Davies-Uniacke's free agency status looms, several clubs are positioning themselves to make a play for the midfield bull. St Kilda is widely regarded as a front-runner, with reports suggesting they are prepared to table offers in the vicinity of $1.5 million per season.
North Melbourne, however, remains in a strong position to match any rival offer, thanks to their ample salary cap space.
The Kangaroos have been proactive in addressing their weaknesses, bringing in veteran forward Jack Darling and versatile defender Caleb Daniel during the trade period. They also made bold draft moves, trading future assets to secure additional picks and selecting key-position prospect Matt Whitlock.
Recruiting boss Will Thursfield acknowledged the importance of converting potential into results on the scoreboard.
โYou'd hope we'd improve quite a bit, given the cattle we've brought in and another year into these young kids,โ Thursfield said after this week's National Draft.
โAt the end of the day, we've got to back ourselves in a bit.โ
As the 2025 season approaches, the Kangaroos' focus will be on turning their promise into wins, with hopes that a resurgent campaign will secure Davies-Uniacke's commitment and lay the foundation for a brighter future.
