Aaron Hall may have biggest upside of any player in this year’s trade period, says Jay Clark

AARON Hall has been an elite ballwinner in the past and arrives at North Melbourne for a song. JAY CLARK says his addition can help the Kangas surge in 2018.

Aaron Hall can be very damaging. Pic: Michael Klein

AARON Hall is the perfect project for Brad Scott.

At his best, the Gold Coast midfielder is a run-and-carry machine and a damaging goal kicker in the front half.

In 2016-17, he was ranked second behind only Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield for effective metres gained of any non-defender.

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We know footy is a territory game these days, so blokes who can swoop on ground balls around the contest and slip away from the opposition like that are gold.

And along with Tom Lynch, this pacy ball-winner may have the most upside of any of the players traded over the next few weeks.

Especially when he only cost North Melbourne pick No.68. That is value.

Aaron Hall has the traits of a star. Pic: Getty Images

There wasn’t a lot of love for him up at Gold Coast this year and when he was dropped to the NEAFL, from a struggling side, his cards were marked.

For North, Hall is a great get. He is still only 27, has some tricks, and wants to finally start playing in a winning side.

And when you package him with Port speedster Jared Polec and Jasper Pittard, North is clearly going to have a lot more sizzle in its midfield sausage for next season.

More run, more electricity, more polish.

And while Hall isn’t a well-rounded midfielder right now, he certainly can be.

That’s where Scott has to help improve Hall’s defensive game and turn him into more of a two-way runner.

HALL MAGNET

Aaron Hall - by years	2016/17	2018
Time in centre bounce	46%	9%
Time on Wing	39%	41%
Time forward	14%	20%
Time in defence	1%	30%
Disposals	26.7	18.5
Contested possessions	7.2	6.0
Uncontested possessions	19.6	12.2
Metres gained	522	367
Clearances	2.6	1.5
Goals	0.6	0.2
Score involvements	6.1	2.3
Official AFL Player Ratings	13.1	8.5
SOURCE: CHAMPION DATA

Clearly, that’s part of the reason why he has fallen out of favour in some respects at Gold Coast this season.

And it probably gets highlighted more when you are in a team that is chasing its tail as much as the Suns have.

But let’s not forget he has twice finished top-five in Gold Coast’s best-and-fairest.

He played six games this season, but tore his pec against Geelong, ending his season in Round 11.

In his second-last match he had 29 possessions, five tackles and three clearances against Port Adelaide.

The Herald Sun revealed earlier this month he had nominated North Melbourne as his preferred new home, where he wants to again become an elite ball-winner.

Perhaps, just with some more balance to his game.

It’s a low-cost punt worth taking.

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