Roo radar homes on Thomas

NORTH Melbourne says its first-round pick is on the trade table, declaring it has again become a destination club.

The Roos are only a game out of the top four with a 4-3 record and face ladder leader Richmond on Sunday.

Last year they were unable to secure Richmond’s Dustin Martin or Greater Western Sydney star Josh Kelly despite massive plays, in part because they were not seen to be in the premiership window.

But North Melbourne chief executive Carl Dilena yesterday said the Roos were back in the game.

Available free agents include Eagle Andrew Gaff, Bulldog Luke Dahlhaus and Crow Rory Sloane, while Pies Josh Thomas and Jordan De Goey, Port’s Ollie Wines and Demon Angus Brayshaw are quality midfielders who will be out of contract at the end of the season.

Collingwood half-forward De Goey is in the best form of his short career, and has already drawn interest from several clubs despite putting off talks until mid-year.

Dilena said all options were on the table regarding the club’s picks, and the Roos were certain to secure Tasmanian academy midfielder Tarryn Thomas.

At the weekend, Thomas peeled off a 28-possession, twogoal, 189-ranking point game against the Sydney Swans academy to roar into contention as a top-three draft pick.

The Kangaroos could trade their first pick for a star midfielder then use later picks or even next year’s draft selections to match the points needed for Thomas.

“If you look at where the team is performing at the moment and how we would throw some extra talent into the mix, we are going to be right up there,” Dilena said.

“We do see ourselves as the kind of club which would be attractive to anyone coming in.

“Our list has some pretty good players, but how do we add that extra talent to keep our team up the top of the ladder?

“That was the case last year and it will be the case again this year and it naturally helps if you are playing good footy.”

Thomas is a goalkicking midfielder who can immediately slot into the Roos midfield.

Dilena confirmed last week’s report that the Roos were interested in midfielders rather than West Coast defender Mitch McGovern.

“I think if you have a look at what our focus was last year, it’s developing added depth and flexibility in the midfield,” he said. “I think you have to look at all options. Free agency can be cheap because you only have to give up money but if you are at the trade table and are going to be serious about it, you have to give up something of value to get something back, so we recognise that.”

Dilena said the Roos believed in principle that fatherson selections should trump academy picks after boom teen Nick Blakey chose Sydney over the Roos last week.

His father John Blakey has been at Sydney as a long-term assistant coach, giving the Swans the whip hand to secure the 196cm midfielder-forward.