Despite currently residing at the foot of the AFL ladder with a 1-14 record and coterie members calling for boardroom heads to roll, there may still be air between the rebuilding Roos and a realistic rock bottom.
Though powerbrokers at Arden Street have been transparent about the length their current overhaul is set to take, the beatings dealt out on a weekly basis have taken the vast majority of breaths from their balloon.
Still, with their historical debt wiped and a recruiting ploy in place to attack the future, the club known for their propensity for always facing up to a fight is prepared to get their fists dirty again.
Within a report published by The Age this week, it was suggested that North Melbourne held the view of obtaining a general behind the ball in the mould of Luke Hodge during his tenure with the Lions.
But while the notion of luring a seasoned veteran to help raise the Roos off the canvas may well work in theory, before one can be snared, a short-list must first be drawn.
While North has kept their cards close to their chest regarding the names in their crosshairs, you can be sure that if they are to pull the trigger on an import, it will be one that meets most of these metrics:
- Is open to seeking a final challenge before hanging their boots up
- Has proven their leadership qualities across the course of their career
- Has proven capabilities in steering sides
- Has obvious claims to a coaching role once their playing career concludes
With this in mind, here are the prime candidates currently plying their trade on rival lists.
Although most names on this list will appear to be unrealistic trade options on the surface, but so too did the notion of Hodge, and his former teammate, Sam Mitchell, coming clad in anything other than a brown and gold guernsey.
Still, with the left-field nature of many of these pitches in mind, only read on after consuming a grain of salt or two.
While the idea of Walker playing anywhere other than Adelaide makes about as much sense as a reality show host in the White House, recent history has shown us that predicting its course is still a stiff task.
Though ‘Tex’ wouldn’t find himself behind the ball if he crossed over the border, the 32-year-old’s ability to act as a shield for twin pillars in Cameron Zurhaar and Nick Larkey could only be seen as beneficial.
With captaincy credentials under his belt and recent form in helping gel a young offensive unit comprised of Darcy Fogarty, Elliott Himmelberg and Riley Thilthorpe amongst others, Walker has runs on the board when it comes to rebuilds.
His signature would also ease nightmare material for North’s already beleaguered backline each time they are fixtured to face the Crows.
While Rich and the Lions go together like spaghetti and meatballs, the Western Australian’s ability to launch the pill from defence and vocally muster would be worth their weight in gold if they came in a blue and white guernsey.
Despite still being contracted for another campaign at the Gabba, Rich is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the cessation of the 2023 season.
So, even if the Roos are made to bide their time for 12 months, the ever-so slim chance of a successful pitch to Rich remains live.
While a shift away from Carlton would likely see Princes Park razed to the ground, a trade between the Roos and Blues for Docherty does work, in broad theory.
Given Carlton has requisite half-back options in Adam Saad, Zac Williams and Nic Newman, should Docherty be offered a king’s ransom to cross Royal Park, the coverage is already under their roof
But given Docherty is currently in career-best form, North Melbourne would need to part with more than just a handsome cheque to pry the 28-year-old loose.
Like Rich in the Sunshine State, Docherty is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season, so however slim, the option is open on several fronts, whether Blues fans choose to accept this or not.
Should North’s ‘Hail Mary’ for ‘The Doc’ fall flat, a secondary swing for out-of-contract veteran Ed Curnow could well bear fruit.
Again, if a trade of this magnitude ever came to pass, Collingwood’s list management team would require round-the-clock bodyguards for much of the next decade.
Still, with the Collingwood champion currently operating off half-back after his 30th birthday and having previously stated his desire to coach in the future, ‘Pendles’ meets the vast majority of markers North are sure to lay down.
Though the prospect of Pendlebury playing in anything other than black and white bars is slimmer enough to slide under any door, North would be derelict in their duties if they weren’t prepared to put a figure before the ageing superstar.
Another skipper and another target who fits the mould.
While Heppell remains the Bombers’ contemporary heart and soul, the recent wind back of the 30-year-old’s midfield minutes shows that plans for the future are already in place at the Hangar.
With his calm manner and jovial attitude, the Leongatha-born backman appears to have the perfect personality to help steer the Roos behind the ball, as well as weather the many bumps with a grin.
Although a longbow, North does have form in luring Essendon captains away, with Barry Davis trading Windy Hill for Arden Street following the 1972 season – a campaign they ironically finished last in.
Still plying his trade at the age of 36, it is clear that Mundy has made a deal with Father Time, and if there are any runs left in his legs, North may wish to have a word.
Despite growing up in country Victoria, Mundy has spent over half his life across the other side of the Nullarbor. So, while a shift to Arden Street could be deemed a return home, it would be a hard sell for his family.
Irrespective, if the AFL’s answer to Benjamin Button fosters ambitions to trade the playing field for the coaches box in the near future, a package akin to what the Eagles offered Sam Mitchell, then the lifetime Docker could well be on the move.
If the Roos instead harbour ambitions for a player born closer to the millennium, plays for Joel Hamling or Michael Walters could well arise.
Although Joel Selwood is set to end his latest deal at the end of this season, North Melbourne’s list management team would have an easier time breaking into Fort Knox than coaxing the Cats’ captain away.
With this in mind, the nous and skillset honed by Zach Tuohy across his tenures in the Pivot City and Princes Park are likely to be placed at a premium.
Also out of contract at the cessation of 2022, the Irishman is feasibly open to offers, but a price to lure him away from the Cattery will need to outweigh his desire for a flag.
Still, if Geelong is to salute this September, any possible pursuit could well become a simpler task.
Despite the fact that there are countless champions scattered across this catalogue, luring Swallow south to North may well be the toughest sell of the lot.
Having spent the entirety of his career as a Sun, the 29-year-old has seen few peaks and too many troughs to cash what little chips he has built up at Carrara just yet.
Still, with his brother Andrew having carved out a contemporary throne as a Roo, as well as the fact that his own poise and leadership capabilities are craved, an over-the-odds offer may well see the Western Australian consider setting his time as a Sun.
Having blown out 30 candles on his cake in May of this year, the career of the manbunned backman is closer to ceasing than starting.
And with the rise of Sam Taylor and Jake Stein within the Giants’ defensive percussion, plus Leek Aleer waiting in the wings, there does remain some ambiguity regarding Haynes’ future.
Both consistent and scrupulous, Haynes’ presence behind the ball would not only fill a current chasm down back, but it would allow those around him to walk taller with a clearer set of instructions each week.
Despite rarely offering much through media avenues, the Victorian’s ability to guide his younger teammates around the park was rewarded ahead of this season with his elevation into the expansion side’s leadership group.
Should Haynes wish to honour the final two years of his contract, a play for soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Phil Davis could act as the Roos’ consolation prize.
As raised by Jake Niall within his seminal piece for The Age, the three-time premiership Hawk is almost the perfect candidate for the role.
With upwards of 250 games of experience, a sound knowledge of how to tackle September, an introduction into how to manage young teammates and a track record of demanding more from those around him, an import of his ilk would be priceless for North.
And with the 31-year-old set to become an unrestricted free agent at the cessation of this season, should the Roos get their ducks in a row, they may well prove able to tempt the Hawk to cross town.
Though Brown doesn’t outwardly appear to be the masochistic, sit-com type, could the Tasmanian be coaxed to shack up with his ex again?
Sure, the spearhead doesn’t fit the mould of a Luke Hodge-esqe quarterback, and after picking up a trident and a premiership last year, it would be a rigor mortis stiff sell to lure him back to Arden Street.
But with a knowledge of the landscape, an evident desire to dip his toe into the coaching world and a love for the club still sure to reside somewhere, there could be a chance that the 29-year-old becomes the league’s latest boomerang player.
Again, crazier things have happened in the game’s history, but if sanity is to prevail, a pitch to Michael Hibberd may have the desired effect.
Think Port Adelaide, and images of Russell Ebert, Fos Williams and Gavin Wanganeen are sure to fill your mind.
Think of the proud club’s contemporary history, and it’s impossible not to have the class of Travis Boak cross your hippocampus.
While the notion of prying the superstar away from Alberton makes little sense at the present, with Boak hailing from Victoria’s surf coast, as well as his footy IQ and leadership skillset near unparalleled, crafting a tempting package should be on North’s list of chores.
And with the 33-year-old set to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, now is the time to strike.
Should the Roos strike out, Robbie Gray is also set to meet free agency markers once the Power’s current campaign comes to a close.
Again, like Boak across the border, the Riewoldt name is sacrosanct at Tigerland.
Still, without a current deal to remain at Punt Road beyond the end of the 2022 season, a chance to play mentor elsewhere to end his career could well tempt the 33-year-old.
And with his sky-high levels of passion on display throughout the entirety of his 16 seasons in yellow and black, the addition of Riewoldt at Arden Street is certain to add some hum and zest.
Any package on offer for the Tasmanian is sure to centre around the opportunity to play four games each season at the familiar surrounds of Bellerive Oval.
Should Riewoldt’s Tiger ties prove too strong, then a pitch to his long-term teammate Shane Edwards may prove beneficial, especially given the veteran’s desire to learn the ropes in a coaching and list management sense.
With a roster comprised of few genuine veterans, the former skipper’s name is about the only one on Linton Street that fits the bill.
Still, with the dogged defender and vaunted clubman yet to taste senior action so far this season, it’s hard to imagine that Geary’s name would sit too high on North’s shopping list.
But with a proven ability to help develop names around him and win contests inside defensive 50, if the Roos are met with impasses elsewhere, bringing the 34-year-old into the fold will have a positive effect on the current situation.
Despite forging a champion career in the Harbour City since crossing over from Hawthorn, the emergence of the Swans’ latest brigade of midfielders has seen it creep closer to its autumn.
Currently sidelined with a hamstring strain, Kennedy has been forced to flex his leadership muscles from another angle. And with North’s midfield currently missing their own chief in Ben Cunnington, the addition of more seniority at the coalface can only be deemed a positive.
At 34-years-of-age and in the final year of his deal at Moore Park, now is the time for North to construct a deal to bring Kennedy into their fold, just as the club did with his grandfather, John, during the late 80s.
If not, then a pitch to bring Dane Rampe back across the Murray to lead their defensive line could prove to be the antidote they are after.
As reliable as he is stoic, luring Hurn across the Nullarbor would provide North with more mettle in defensive 50 than they have seen for decades.
While not the most vocal Eagle when it comes to speaking via media streams, when the 34-year-old does open his mouth, those around him listen. And when Hurn acts, his teammates follow.
Although likely in the final year of his impressive career, should North prove able to convince the defender to play on, it is sure to have real benefits for future campaigns.
And given the Roos’ current GM of Football, Brady Rawlings, spent three season’s in the Eagles’ nest, the likelihood of a working relationship already existing between the pair in question is near undeniable.
Should Adam Simpson make the move back to Arden Street, then the odds of a change of scenery could plummet.
Though the Liberatore name is synonymous with hardnosed deeds in a red, white and blue guernsey, with Tom set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2023, a play to see him join in the chorus makes sense.
While unlikely to ever sign up to play a bruise-free role behind the ball, should the tattooed dynamo be dropped in amongst the burgeoning likes of Jy Simpkin, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Jason Horne-Francis, Tom Powell and Will Phillips, the kids will learn plenty.
But if ‘Libba’ turns down advances to link up with the club his father, Tony, played under-age footy with, a backup plan to bring the cerebral Mitch Wallis onboard could only help the Kangaroos’ cause.