Former Carlton recruiter Stephen Silvagni has urged North Melbourne to walk a player from a rival club to this year’s pre-season draft.
As the Kangaroos hold the first pick in that draft, any remaining uncontracted player is free to be picked up by the club on November 30.
“From a North Melbourne point of view, they need to attack a player and get something through,” Silvagni said on AFL Trade Radio.
“With what’s been going on at North of late, I think there needs to be some hope and excitement.
“That’s my view.”
With Collingwood youngster Ollie Henry still uncontracted, Silvagni says his sights would be on putting an “offer he can’t refuse” in front of the 20-year-old who has requested to be traded to Geelong.
While Henry wants to be a Cat in 2023, Silvagni thinks North Melbourne has the wares to put forth an offer that no rival could match.
“I’d be tracking Ollie Henry down,” Silvagni said.
“We know North are really well placed with their salary cap.
“You need to give him a very good offer, here’s a 20-year-old that’s got a heap of potential.
“You know he can play at the level, yes, he’s got some deficiencies in his game but he’s a first-round pick, he’s a goalkicker, I think he could help them up forward in the future.
“I’d give him a really good offer he can’t refuse.”
When pressed by AFL Media’s Damian Barrett if Silvagni would offer Henry $600,000 a season, he admitted that would be in the realms of possibility as the pre-season selection would cost nothing in terms of trade assets.
“Quite possibly (there is a $600,000 a season offer), but I haven’t thought about the number,” Silvagni said.
“My point is you’ve got to be able to use that avenue, North have to do everything now to get players through the door.
“To be able to get a player for nothing, you can afford to play a little bit.
“That happens when they get to the pre-season (draft) generally.”
The 2020 first-round draft pick is hoping to get to Geelong to play with his brother Jack and hasn’t been formally linked to the Kangaroos.