ROOS SWOOP
Tassie recruiting maestro gets back on board
NORTH Melbourne’s Tasmanian connection has grown stronger with the Kangaroos “poaching” former club champion Brady Rawlings from the reigning premier West Coast to be its football manager.
Leading into its Round 16 clash with St Kilda at Blundstone Arena on Sunday, Kangaroos’ managing director and CEO Carl Dilena said the club could not be more happy to have Rawlings back on board.
“Brady is a true Shinboner and three-time Syd Barker Medal winner, and brings a wealth of experience as not only a former player, but as a highly regarded administrator,” Dilena said.
Rawlings, 38, returns to North Melbourne after a sixyear stint with the premiership-winning West Coast Eagles, initially as an assistant coach and more recently as list manager.
The Eagles released their Tasmanian recruiting maestro from his 2020 contract.
“We acknowledge the difficult position West Coast faces in losing someone of Brady’s calibre,” Dilena said.
”We faced the same proposition in 2013 and we greatly appreciate their understanding and co-operation.”
Rawlings was drafted to North Melbourne in 1998 with pick 15 and became one of the league’s best taggers over his 13-year career.
He won his first Syd Barker Medal in 2004, the same year he was selected to represent Australia in the International Rules Series. In 2006, he claimed his second best-andfairest award and a third in 2010. Rawlings retired in 2011 and went to work with North’s next generation of players as a senior recruiter and player induction coach.
He was headhunted by West Coast in the lead-up to the 2013 AFL National Draft to join his good mate Adam Simpson. Dilena said Rawlings’ “homecoming” was set for December once he fulfilled his contractual commitment with West Coast.
“We’re extremely thrilled to be welcoming Brady home,” Dilena said. “The future is incredibly exciting, with the club on a new path and in the hunt for a new coach.
“We believe Brady is the perfect person for the job and know he will be able to build on the foundation we’ve laid.”