Roos rely on Dees tumbling

NORTH Melbourne will spend the season desperate for Melbourne to fail after yesterday pulling off a pick swap with nearly as much risk as the Liam Stocker trade.

Rhyce Shaw’s Roos will back 17th-placed Melbourne to battle again next year after agreeing to a risky pick swap that sees them hand over pick No.8 this year.

The Roos will give up their No.8 pick this year but get Melbourne’s 26 and 50, and receive the Demons first-rounder next year.

Melbourne now has picks three and eight, and while there is a small chance the Demons could trade one of those picks tomorrow they will more likely take them both to the national draft.

The Roos will win the deal from a points perspective even if the Demons are the 2020 premiers, effectively getting three picks for one.

But if the Demons finish mid-table or worse, they will cash in with a huge pick haul.

Melbourne has made finals only once since 2007 so on history alone the Roos have a chance to finish the trade on top. The Roos believe the draft is particularly even this year so could select the same type of player with pick 26.

They could also move up the draft again, now having 26, 27, 47 and 50.

The deal will hand Melbourne picks No.3 and eight in this year’s draft — a bumper haul that could also see them handing those picks to another club for an established player.

The Roos have had a quiet trade week given no interest in Mason Wood, but will back in their established talent to rise up the ladder.

Melbourne football boss Josh Mahoney said yesterday the Demons now had a great deal more flexibility with their selections.

“Part of our strategy during this trade period was to improve our draft position by using our future picks,” Mahoney he said.

“Next year’s draft will have a high number of talented Academy players, and we value another top selection in this draft.

“Clubs can trade picks right up until the draft and on draft night under AFL rules and having picks No.3 and 8 gives us options and flexibility.”