Luke Davies-Uniacke contract limbo won’t worry North Melbourne given midfield depth, says Denis Pagan

North Melbourne is doing everything it can to lock down free agent-to-be Luke Davies-Uniacke. But, one Roos great says the club’s rebuild won’t suffer if LDU takes up a big-money offer elsewhere.

North Melbourne team of the century coach Denis Pagan says his old club will be “well served” in the midfield even if Luke Davies-Uniacke leaves as the free agent-to-be weighs up big rival offers.

The Roos are hopeful midfield bull Davies-Uniacke will sign a monster extension before he becomes a restricted free agent at the end of this season but the 25-year-old is keen to see improvement on-field before locking himself in.

Multiple clubs will come for the former No.4 pick should he remain unsigned as the year progresses, with St Kilda desperate to plug an A-grade talent into its onball brigade.

Pagan, who coached the Roos in a club record 240 games from 1993-2002, said “of course” he wanted Davies-Uniacke to stay.

But with youngsters like Harry Sheezel, George Wardlaw, Colby McKercher and recent No.2 pick Finn O’Sullivan coming through, the dual premiership coach didn’t have fears for the club if Davies-Uniacke departs.

“You hear stories that he is being offered mind boggling contracts, I think he is a very good player,” Pagan told this masthead.

Denis Pagan says North Melbourne will be fine if Luke Davies-Uniacke moves on.

“I think North are going to be well served with midfielders going forward though. When you look at guys like Sheezel and McKercher and those sort of boys. Even the wraps I hear on Finn O’Sullivan as a wingman have been enormous.

“In the years to come, I think you will find that North Melbourne will be well served and midfield won’t be a position they will be worried about without him (Davies-Uniacke).”

Denis Pagan shares a laugh with Roos coach Alastair Clarkson. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Davies-Uniacke pledged his future to North Melbourne fans midway through last season and while he is yet to sign a new deal, his captain Jy Simpkin said this week he was “super confident” the reigning best-and-fairest winner would stay.

A famously forthright coach during a golden period at Arden Street, Pagan said he didn’t mind players earning big money.

Superstar Wayne Carey was deservedly the highest paid player in the league under Pagan’s watch.

Davies-Uniacke’s next deal could put even ‘King’ Carey in the shadows given offers could come in around $10 million over seven years or more.

“It didn’t worry me, good luck to you if you can get the money,” Pagan said.

“You deserve every cent of it. I don’t think people realise the pressure league footballers are under and how it affects them long term.

“You deserve what you get, it is a tough game and your body takes a lot of knocks.”

Originally published as Luke Davies-Uniacke contract limbo won’t worry North Melbourne given midfield depth, says Denis Pagan