North Melbourne expected to secure Paul Ahern in trade from GWS Giants

UPDATE: NORTH Melbourne has completed a deal for GWS midfielder Paul Ahern as the club begins injecting its ageing team with young talent.

NORTH Melbourne has secured GWS midfielder Paul Ahern as the club begins injecting its ageing team with young talent.

As reported in today’s Herald Sun, the Roos finalised the deal for the classy ball-winner in exchange for pick No.69.

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But the man who was originally taken with pick No.7 in the 2014 national draft will miss the entire 2017 season as he recovers from a second knee reconstruction.

Ahern, 20, tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in February and again in September this year in a devastating run of bad luck.

But the Roos are backing the goalkicking midfielder to recover fully and be part of their long-term rebuild after farewelling veterans Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo and losing Daniel Wells to Collingwood.

GWS’s Paul Ahern is set to join North Melbourne. Picture: Mark Wilson

The Roos will stock up on young players through the national draft and continue to closely monitor fringe players at franchise teams GWS and Gold Coast.

Ahern, who failed to play a senior game in his two seasons at the Giants, performed strongly at NEAFL level before his serious knee injuries and will help inject some linbreaking run and polish into the Roos’ midfield mix. He can play inside and outside midfield roles.

The Calder product has already toured North’s facilities and has had extensive discussions with North Melbourne officials including coach Brad Scott and new football boss Cameron Joyce.

They have given a strong endorsement of his character and on-field potential.

Ahern is contracted for next season but the Giants have agreed to move him on after a nightmare year dealing with the two serious knee injuries.

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They are expected to receive North’s fourth-round selection.

MEANWHILE, North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein will not be traded to West Coast.

Reports over the weekend suggested the big man had undergone a medical check with the Eagles in Perth but the Roos, Eagles and Goldstein’s management have denied he has met with them.

Goldstein is expected to remain at Arden St next season.

Former teammate Petrie remains on the Eagles’ radar as they search for another ruck forward next season.