Hall of famer and North Melbourne great Wayne Carey has urged the Kangaroos to make an offer that the Blues can't refuse for Carlton's Harry McKay.
The Blues are off to a poor start in 2021 with a 4-8 record, and with their star forward out-of-contract at the end of the season, teams are coming in thick and fast in hope to lure him out of Princes Park.
Carlton are currently in talks with McKay and his management on a potential new deal, but that hasn't stopped the interest from a number of rival clubs.
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With the Blues potentially in a money shortage after signing new recruits Zac Williams and Adam Saad to big deals, along with the need to re-sign their own stars in Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh, Carey believes there's no better time for teams like North Melbourne to pounce on the Coleman Medal leader.
In a column in The Age, Carey said an offer worth over $1 million-a-season for five years will give McKay and the Blues something to think about.
“If North put $1 million-plus on the table over five years, McKay, at the very least, will have some thinking to do. Even $1.2 million-plus is not out of the question,” Carey wrote.
“As soon as the gap between what he’d get at Carlton versus what he’d get elsewhere is more than a million dollars over a five-year period, it can’t be dismissed simply on loyalty.”
Carey added that the potential to play with twin brother Ben, who re-signed with the Kangaroos on a two-year deal earlier in the week, may be something the club looks to as a lure.
“Don’t underestimate the lure of family,” Carey added.
“While money is clearly a factor, the Roos can pitch pairing the McKay brothers at Arden Street and I assume Ben is already in Harry’s ear.”
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Should Harry want to leave the Blues and a deal not be struck, Carey added that the potential to walk to the Roos via the pre-season draft is a possibility.
The Bombers and Magpies have also been heavily linked to McKay, while Hawthorn are also tipped to be one of many keen suitors for the Blues spearhead.
McKay, 23, has featured in every game so far in 2021 despite being concussed during the Blues' loss to West Coast in Round 12.
He currently leads the Coleman Medal race with 38 goals to date in 2021.