North Melbourne free agent Ben McKay to join Essendon

The Dons are opening up the war chest in the hope of securing three free agents. How can they pull it off? Get the latest on the off-season signing spree.

Ben McKay is headed to Essendon. Picture: Michael Klein

Essendon has won the race for North Melbourne free agent Ben McKay and is pushing hard for Jade Gresham and Todd Goldstein as part of a blockbuster triple play.

In one of the biggest moves in free agency history, the Bombers are in the box seat for St Kilda goal kicker Gresham and are fighting Collingwood for Roo ruckman Goldstein.

It looms as a masterful move from the Bombers who won’t have to give up anything in a trade for McKay, 25, Gresham, 26, and Goldstein, 35, as all three are free agents.

But North Melbourne faces a nervous wait over what compensation the club will receive for McKay’s departure as Essendon offered less money for McKay than Hawthorn, who was also interested.

It remains unclear whether Essendon’s offer is more than $800,000 a year for McKay, which would be required to trigger band one compensation, gifting the Kangaroos pick three as compensation.

The other outcome for North Melbourne is an end-of -first-round compensation pick which would slide back to the early 20s (following academy selections) in the draft order.

Ben McKay has chosen Essendon as his preferred destination. Photo by Michael Klein.

North Melbourne could follow GWS Giants’ move (on Jeremy Cameron to Geelong) and match a free agency bid from Essendon to force a better trade deal, but it seems unlikely.

List boss Brady Rawlings said the Roos would consider their next move.

“We understand that free agency is part of football,” Rawlings said.

“Given Ben is a restricted free agent, we have the option to match any contract that’s on offer to him.

“The official start of the free agency period is still a couple of weeks away so we’ve got time to assess our options and make a decision in the best interests of the North Melbourne Football Club.”

The AFL is also weighing up a special assistance package which could hand the Kangaroos another early draft pick and young star draftee Ryley Sanders as part of its next generation academy.

The Hawks came hard late for McKay and are believed to have offered a more lucrative offer in a bid to pip the Bombers and beef-up Sam Mitchell’s back line.

But in a massive coup for the Bombers, list boss Adrian Dodoro landed McKay and remains the frontrunner for Gresham, who could add more potency at ground level in the forward half.

Dodoro is preparing to take former West Coast midfielder Matt Rosa under his wing for next season to help prepare him to take over the list management duties.

Richmond and Carlton are also in the running for Gresham, but the Saint is keen on Essendon.

Todd Goldstein is also set to leave the Roos. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Goldstein is also weighing up joining forces with Sam Draper in the Essendon ruck department next year but has also attracted interest from Collingwood to help out Darcy Cameron.

The Magpies were caught short in the ruck this year when Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox went down injured, leaving the club to ruck Dan McStay and Billy Frampton this season.

The Magpies are in the premiership window which could be tempting for Goldstein who is still chasing a flag.

But Essendon play two ruckmen and are eyeing Goldstein who was one of the best tap ruckmen in the competition under Brad Scott at Arden St.

Importantly for the Bombers, they want to keep hold of their first round draft pick (eight) and add the mature-age talent after a disappointing end to the season put them out of the finals race.

Scott went down a similar route at North Melbourne adding free agents Shaun Higgins, Nick Dal Santo and Jarrad Waite late in their careers.

But Essendon will secure McKay and Gresham in their prime.

Essendon will lose defender Brendon Zerk-Thatcher to Port Adelaide, but McKay is the strong-bodied key defender the back line has been missing.

Port Adelaide only has a future first-round draft pick to pull off moves for Zerk-Thatcher and Esava Ratugolea from Geelong.

Originally published as North Melbourne free agent Ben McKay to join Essendon