North Melbourne is hoping to secure both Dustin Martin and Josh Kelly this off-season

EXCLUSIVE: NORTH Melbourne’s board has ticked off on the game’s most audacious recruiting raid — a stunning double play for superstars Dustin Martin and Josh Kelly.

Josh Kelly in action for GWS. Picture: Getty Images

NORTH Melbourne’s board has ticked off on the game’s most audacious recruiting raid — a stunning double play for superstars Dustin Martin and Josh Kelly.

The Herald Sun estimates the combined value of the deals is in excess of the $15 million mark and has confirmed the Kangaroos have enough salary cap space to poach both out-of-contract midfielders.

The Roos would sign Kelly and Martin on long-term deals each worth more than $1 million a season to accelerate the club’s push for a fifth premiership.

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North has not disputed reports of a nine-year offer for Giants star and childhood Kangaroos fan Kelly while six years is closer to the mark for Tiger Martin.

Dustin Martin breaks a tackle against Port Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed

It’s understood the club has spent considerable time devising a strategy to land both players in October. Factors include:

ARRIVING as a package would allow Martin and Kelly to share the spotlight.

EXISTING links to Arden St (Kelly’s father Phil played 61 games for North and Martin is a friend of defender Marley Williams).

IMMEDIATE impact on a team which has lost five games by less than a goal.

THE prospect of an influx of father-son and academy prospects eligible to join the following year.

Kangaroos head of football Cameron Joyce on Thursday refused to comment on a dual bid for the stars.

“What I will say is that we were decisive last year in making sure we explored every option and nothing has changed,” Joyce told the Herald Sun.

“We will explore every single option available to us … and we will make sure any prospective move ties in directly with our strategic goal of winning our fifth premiership.”

If the Kangaroos pulled off the Martin-Kelly coup they could then load up with four gun kids at next year’s draft.

They have priority access to father-sons Nick Blakey (son of John), Bailey Scott (son of Robert) and Joel Crocker (son of Darren) plus top indigenous talent Tarryn Thomas through their Tasmanian academy.

Blakey and Scott are also eligible at other clubs.

Reversing North’s five tight losses this season would lift coach Brad Scott’s young side to within one win of the top four.

Scott has privately lamented the need for a game-breaking megastar.

The Kangas would not have to trade for Martin, but Richmond could thwart his potential move by matching a godfather offer for the restricted free agent.

The Tigers have tabled Martin the richest offer in Punt Rd history, but the Brownlow fancy is yet to sign their six-year contract.

If the Roos remain 17th they could begin negotiations for Kelly by offering GWS the No. 2 draft pick.

Josh Kelly in action for GWS. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Retired Kangaroo Nick Dal Santo said Martin and Kelly were top-five midfielders who would give North an “absolute dynamic” look.

“My move there went as smooth as it could’ve gone in regards to being welcomed into a new football club,” Dal Santo said.

“And I think they have equal opportunity. Resources, equipment, facilities — I always felt that I had everything I ever wanted or needed.”

The Roos attempted to trade into the 2012 mini-draft to secure 17-year-old Kelly, rating him above Jesse Hogan and Jack Martin.

But Gold Coast (Martin) and Melbourne (Hogan) satisfied the Giants with earlier selections.

North holds the third-best percentage by a four-win team in VFL-AFL history after Round 17, highlighting its competitiveness.