North Melbourne coach Alistair Clarkson has confirmed that the Kangaroos are interested in recruiting Melbourne premiership= midfielder Jack Viney as they chase experienced players to assist their young stars.
Viney is contracted with the Demons until 2025 but his father, Todd, is North Melbourne’s general manager of football.
The interest in a family reunion was expressed by Clarkson in his conversation with AFL greats Kane Cornes and David King on SEN Breakfast on Friday morning.
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“We want anyone that’s going to help us in that space,” Clarkson said.
“There’s half a dozen players that have been successful, that have had really strong careers and are really strong in their leadership.
“All the guys that we actually want are probably contracted because they’re required for a reason. It’s just can you extract one, two of them out who feel like they’re either not going to get the same opportunities as what they had before or they feel like their club is going in a different direction.
“We’re just hoping we can extract one or two of those. Jack (Viney) is part of that.”
It comes after Channel 9’s Tom Morris first reported North was pursuing Viney and that Melbourne is trying to extend the tough on-baller’s contract beyond 2025.
There is no denying the talent of North Melbourne’s recent top draft picks with Harry Sheezel in All-Australian contention, Colby McKercher racking up possessions across half back, George Wardlaw showing his appetite for the contest despite recent concussion issues and Zane Duursma displaying his athleticism.
They are well complemented by Luke Davies-Uniacke in the midfield and Nick Larkey up forward, but Clarkson insists that “North aren’t going to win a flag if it’s just relying on the draft”.
The four-time Hawthorn premiership coach envisions that further down the line the Kangaroos will recruit players to fill holes like the Hawks did with the likes of defenders Josh Gibson and Brian Lake before their three-peat.
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Clarkson identified that a “strong spine” and a “deep midfield” are the key elements of any premiership side and he feels like the club now has “a bit of blue sky” to chase players from other clubs after several off-field issues.
Former number one draft pick Jason Horne-Francis departing for Port Adelaide after one season, Clarkson taking time off due to the Hawthorn historical racism allegations and the club severing ties with Tarryn Thomas have painted North Melbourne in a negative light.
But their improvement on field in the second half of this season – where they have taken it up to several top sides – means Clarkson believes the club is now a more attractive option for senior players.
And he has several targets in mind to help advance the Kangaroos’ rebuild.
“Ollie Wines we’d like to have a chat to,” Clarkson added.
“Luke Parker, Dane Rampe coming out, he’s 34 now. Cal Ward, there’s these guys that are just terrific leaders who have been part of successful programs and are high quality men.
“You’re never confident (of landing these players). I don’t know what the hit and miss ratio is for all other clubs, but I reckon mine is one in ten. You miss nine beauties that you’d love to get to your footy club.
“You’re never confident but we know that’s what we’re searching for. We’ll go to market and see how we can go.”
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