Dumont is edging towards Roos exit
UNRESTRICTED free agent Trent Dumont is leaning towards leaving North Melbourne after tumbling down the club’s midfield pecking order.
It’s understood Dumont, 26, is yet to reveal his intentions to the Kangaroos but is unlikely to remain at Arden St.
He is one of four out-ofcontract North players whose futures are on hold, along with 234-game veteran Shaun Atley, back-up big man Tom Campbell and mid-season draftee Charlie Ham.
Dumont (pictured) can walk to his club of choice without requiring a trade to be brokered.
Essendon has previously shown some interest in the South Australian product, but neither Adelaide nor Port Adelaide is expected to be interested this time around.
Adelaide defender Jake Kelly will exercise his free agency rights to sign with the Bombers, while Sydney’s restricted free agent George Hewett is set to sign a longterm deal with Carlton.
Veteran Kangaroos defender Robbie Tarrant is also going to accept a two-year contract to cross to Richmond.
The bumper 2021 free agency crop largely re-signed at their club, including Rory Laird, Patrick Cripps, Zach Merrett, Cam Guthrie, Josh Kelly, Max Gawn, Jack Billings, Luke Parker and Marcus Bontempelli.
North invested heavily in the midfield as the first plank in its list overhaul, with Jy Simpkin, Luke DaviesUniacke, Tarryn Thomas, Will Phillips and Tom Powell already giving them newfound depth.
The Roos are also certain to select on-ball ace Jason Horne-Francis with their first pick this year, even if it follows potential bids on father-son prospects Nick Daicos (Collingwood) and Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs).
Dumont finished top five in North Melbourne’s best and fairest award in 2018-19 but fell out of the midfield rotation this year and played almost exclusively as a wingman. He was never a full-time on-baller but carved out a reputation as the club’s best defensive midfielder, who could also win his share of the Sherrin.
Meanwhile, it’s believed out-of-contract Eagle Jarrod Brander’s preference is to play a key-position role down back or up forward rather than on a wing.
West Coast has told Brander to explore his options and one of those could be at Carlton, given fifth-year Blue Sam Petrevski-Seton has requested a trade to the Eagles.