SUN ON THE HOP
HALL KANGAS BOUND
AARON Hall is the perfect project for North Melbourne coach Brad Scott.
The out-of-favour Gold Coast Suns midfielder yesterday confirmed he wants a trade to the Kangaroos, joining Port Adelaide onballer Jared Polec in nominating North as his preferred club.
Hall, 27, only managed six games this season – through a mix of form and injury – for a career total of 103.
He said the chance to play finals was a big motivation for seeking a move south, while North’s strong Hobart connection is the perfect fit for the Tasmanian native.
At his best, Hall is a run-and-carry machine and a damaging goal kicker.
In 2016-17, he was ranked second only behind Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield for effective metres gained of any non-defender.
We know footy is a territory game these days, so blokes who can swoop on to ground balls around the contest and slip away from the opposition like that are gold.
And along with Tom Lynch, this pacy ball-winner may have the most upside of any of the players traded over the next few weeks.
Especially when he is only going to cost North Melbourne a late second or thirdround draft pick. That is value.
There wasn’t a lot of love for him at the Suns this year and when he was dropped to the NEAFL his cards were marked.
But when you package him with Polec and maybe West Coast’s Andrew Gaff, North is clearly going to have a lot more sizzle in its midfield sausage for next season.
More run, more electricity, more polish.
And while Hall isn’t a wellrounded midfielder right now, he certainly can be.
That’s where Scott has to help improve Hall’s defensive game and turn him into more of a two-way runner.
Let’s not forget he has twice finished top-five in Gold Coast’s best and fairest.