Shaun Atley among Kangaroos looking to lock in new deals at Arden Street
NORTH Melbourne could secure a second-round draft pick as compensation if he were to leave, but Kanga Shaun Atley hopes it doesn’t come to that.
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NORTH Melbourne free agent Shaun Atley is keen to stay at Arden Street, saying he is confident a deal can be done with his management and the club.
The versatile 25-year-old is thriving on a move to a predominantly forward role this year, which has produced one of his most consistent seasons to date, and his preference is to stay on with the Kangaroos beyond the end of 2018.
“I’m pretty happy at the Kangas,” Atley said at the club’s Harvey’s Heroes clinic.
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“They have been good to me over the last eight years.
“Brad (Scott) has been here the whole time. Brad has been really good for my football development, so I love the place.
“My manager is working through at the minute with the club, so I am confident something will be done.”
Atley, who is a restricted free agent, said he could understand that players were taking their time before making a decision on their future.
“Yeah, it seems there are a lot more players coming out in free agency and I suppose delaying their contracts or waiting until the end of the year, which they are entitled to do,” the 168-game player said.
If Atley does choose to leave, the Kangaroos could secure a second-round pick, which would help them secure Next Generation Academy prospect Tarryn Thomas.
Defender Luke McDonald said he hoped a new deal could be sorted soon to keep him at the club he has barracked for as long as he can remember.
Jed Anderson is also confident he will soon have a new deal locked in place for him to play with the Kangaroos beyond the end of this year.
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Originally published as Shaun Atley among Kangaroos looking to lock in new deals at Arden Street