North Melbourne’s Alastair Clarkson has reportedly sounded out a trio of players from other clubs as he goes about re-engineering the list he has inherited at Arden Street.
The Age is reporting that the new Kangaroos coach is interested in St Kilda pair Brad Hill and Ben Long, as well as West Coast’s Junior Rioli.
Hill, who won three premierships under Clarkson at Hawthorn, has two years remaining on his deal with the Saints, but recently showed desire to find a fourth club.
It is understood the Saints are keen for Hill to remain.
His teammate Long is out of contract at St Kilda and yet to sign on despite playing 19 games (including one as a medi-sub) this season, his most in one year with the club.
Small forward Rioli has a two-year offer on the table from the Eagles but has not yet recommitted to the club. He is also being linked with Port Adelaide and to a lesser degree, Richmond.
The 2018 premiership player has links to the Roos through list manager Brady Rawlings, who was at West Coast for two years of his career, and GM of strategy & legal James Gallagher, who was a lawyer at the AFLPA when Rioli went through his anti doping saga.
Clarkson officially steps into his new role on November 1, but will attend North Melbourne’s best and fairest on Thursday night.