Both North Melbourne and Fremantle join the AFL clubs strongly considering the recruitment of mature-aged and experienced talent through the Rookie Draft and/or Supplemental Selection Period avenues.
The Kangaroos have already been strongly tried to triple premiership ex-Hawk Liam Shiels as an off-season signing, with the veteran winger seen likely to land at Arden Street through the SSP.
The AFL's assistance package, which helped the Roos attain Dockers duo Darcy Tucker and Griffin Logue in the trade period, also gave North Melbourne two additional list spots, which the club are set to use on experienced players.
Speaking to AFL Draft Night Countdownย this week, Kangaroos list manager Brady Rawlings said the club will assess their options at the Rookie Draft before turning their attention to senior talent.
"That's what we're looking at," Rawlings said.
"With the first pick in the rookie draft, we'll see if there's anyone that spits out of the national draft that we rated.
"We obviously have to look at that first. But with the other spots that we've got available โ and we've got the extra two spots given the AFL assistance โ our plan is to get some maturity through the rookie draft."
Fremantle have also flagged their desire to add senior experience to their list following a busy off-season.
On top of the aforementioned exits of Logue and Tucker, the Dockers also parted with Blake Acres (Carlton), Rory Lobb (Western Bulldogs) and Lloyd Meek (Hawthorn) through the trade period.
While they did attain Jaeger O'Meara, Luke Jackson and Josh Corbett, Fremantle still see a void in experience among their ruck stocks to support first-string tall Sean Darcy and Jackson.
"Maybe trialling some players to train on over the pre-season and maybe there's a more established ruck or two who might get an opportunity to come down and just see how they slot into a program," Dockers football boss Peter Vell toldย SEN WA.ย
"We're talking about a more mature player there. I'm not saying that's definitely going to happen but that's something that we're open to."
One option the Dockers may consider is former Sydney ruckman Sam Naismith, who has left the door ajar on continuing his AFL career after facing the chop at Sydney following three knee reconstructions.
Bell admitted Naismith was an option for his side to consider, expressing his hope to see the luckless ex-Swan back in the AFL.
โHe's got a lot of talent,โ Bell said. "I think clubs want to see him have a bit of continuity with all the injuries that he's had. His talent is undeniable.
โWithout committing to Sam, these are all the options that potentially we might look out in that ruck space.
โI think everyone would like to see him play a bit of footy.โ
The Rookie Draft will take place next Wednesday following the National Draft earlier in the week, while the SSP window will open in the new year.
AFL clubs are able to invite players on train and trial contracts for their pre-season programs to help assess their recruiting tactics.
