Terry Wallace has floated the possibility of either Melbourne or Hawthorn chasing Jared Polec in the upcoming trade period.
The 27-year-old is only out of contract at the end of 2023 but has been dropped twice already this season by North Melbourne, leading to questions about where he sits in the pecking order at the club.
As Rhyce Shaw looks to drastically reshape his side in the coming months, Wallace expected North Melbourne to be willing to pay part of his salary at another club if it meant their rebuild was expedited.
“I think there’s a few clubs (who would want Polec),” Wallace said on AFL Nation.
“I don’t think (the club) necessarily need to be contending, I think Melbourne have looked for outside run and carry and they’ve gone out and got Ed Langdon this year. I think there’s a few clubs that should look at him personally.
“The model that Hawthorn work on is another one. Are they going kids? North Melbourne would be happy to split his (salary) down the middle in order to get something back to head in a direction that they want to go rather than leaving him sitting there running around in the VFL.
“I don’t think you’re going to get a lot for him because people out there are talking about why he’s been dropped for a second time, someone would be perceived to be taking a risk to get him.”
Polec played all 22 games for North Melbourne in 2019 after moving from Port Adelaide at the end of the 2018 season. He also played 16 games in three years at Brisbane between 2011 and 2013.
Wallace added that he doesn’t believe Polec will be at North Melbourne in 2021.