North Melbourne has a dilemma with Shaun Atley
SHAUN Atley faces an uncertain future at North Melbourne beyond this season but his departure could boost the Roos’ plans to acquire their highly touted academy prospect.
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SHAUN Atley faces an uncertain future at North Melbourne beyond this season as the Roos’ speedster plays for a new deal.
Atley, 25, is a restricted free agent at the end of the year, meaning rival clubs can secure him without giving up anything in a trade.
While the Roos want to keep Atley, his departure could also deliver a huge boost to the club’s plans to acquire Next Generation Academy prospect Tarryn Thomas at season’s end.
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Thomas has been touted as a potential top-five pick in this year’s bumper draft for his mix of midfield class, X-factor, speed and toughness.
But North’s surge up the ladder this season means the Roos may need another draft pick to ensure it has enough draft index points to nab the exhilarating line breaker.
Atley’s departure could secure the Kangaroos another second-round draft pick, depending on the price rivals are prepared to pay for his run and carry game.
St Kilda, Carlton, Melbourne and Essendon are hunting midfield class and could come into the frame if they miss on free agents Andrew Gaff (West Coast) and Rory Sloane (Adelaide).
Atley finished 10th in the best and fairest at North last year but is unlikely to receive a big-money deal to stay at the Kangaroos.
Thomas, who has been likened to Gold Coast star Jack Martin, would be a perfect addition to the Roos’ engine room, while his Tasmanian roots would also help North grow its presence in the state.
The 189cm playmaker has been described as one of the most exciting talents to come out of the Tasmanian talent pathway system amid fears for the state’s footballing future.
Thomas, who finished with 17 possessions and six tackles in the under-18 national championship game for the Allies on Saturday, said he had relished his time in the Roos’ academy, but was happy to be drafted anywhere.
“The last few years I’ve been training with them for, like a week at a time, whenever they are in Tassie they give me tickets to watch the games,” Thomas told the Herald Sun.
“When I’m in Melbourne they try to get me over. It’s great there, good experience for me.
“But I would like to get drafted by any club, just get on an AFL list and then work my butt off to get a game.”
But North will need to make sure it has enough points to secure Thomas, meaning another second-round pick could be critical.
Currently, the Roos first two picks are No’s. 13 and 31, equalling 1818 draft value index points.
If a bid comes for Thomas in the top five picks of November’s national draft, the Roos will have to fork over as much as 1878 points for him, using their first two selections and potentially a third-round pick.
Another second-round choice for Atley, for example, could deliver the Roos another 584 points (pick No. 32) to help cover any potential shortfall.
The Roos also have two extra third-round picks gained from deals in last year’s trade period with West Coast and St Kilda, which would also boost their points balance by a few hundred.
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Originally published as North Melbourne has a dilemma with Shaun Atley