7 notes from 5 press conferences
Nick Blakey chose North Melbourne, Brady Rawlings said, and a deal is done with Sydney on an eight-year offer. The board signed off on the money, tenure and first-round picks. Blakey asked to meet North among other clubs, and the family link "went in our favour."
we're actually losing players out of our defence rather than gaining them.
Josh Goater has asked to go to Hawthorn, and North Melbourne are still waiting on the Hawks' offer. Brady Rawlings said North saw him in their best 23 next year: "we're actually losing players out of our defence rather than gaining them."
Zane Duursma is still "pretty adamant" about leaving North Melbourne despite new coach Jaymie Graham trying to change his mind, Brady Rawlings said. He denied Melbourne had made three offers, just one chat North wouldn't entertain. Without a trade, North will try to re-sign him.
"5 won't be it." North Melbourne's bid for Adelaide's Nick Murray has stalled, and Brady Rawlings won't split pick 5 to land him as it would cost a pick in the 20s too. North keep 5, with at least six names beyond the top two: "a pretty even group."
Not going to be too many changes.
Jamie Graham starts as North Melbourne coach immediately, joining the trade period before pre-season. The panel was "unanimous", Jen Watt said. Graham wants more defensive balance and turnovers nearer goal, and warned it could be clunky early: "like driving a manual car."
"Not going to be too many changes." Jaymie Graham expects North Melbourne's assistant coaches largely to stay, calling the club "well positioned with staff and coaches". Asked if he'd talk trade-requesting players into staying, he declined: "I've just walked in the door."
No, he didn't fall out of favour, he's injured.
"No, he didn't fall out of favour, he's injured." North Melbourne's Brady Rawlings on Tom Powell, who is "well and truly" in the best team and due back for pre-season. Blake Thredgold, an early second-round pick, missed all year injured and gets another pre-season.