Luke Davies-Uniacke to hold off on a decision on his future as North Melbourne undergo rebuild
Three clubs are the early frontrunners in the race for Luke Davies-Uniacke, who has delayed talks over a new deal at struggling North Melbourne.
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North Melbourne superstar onballer Luke Davies-Uniacke is on track to become the most sought-after player in the game as he holds off on contract talks until next season.
The jet ballwinner will be a restricted free agent in 2025 and will consider his options including guaranteed blockbuster seven-figure offers from Victorian rivals next year.
The Kangaroos are keen to re-sign Davies-Uniacke early to thwart poaching raids from a long list of interested clubs including St Kilda, Essendon and Adelaide who want more top-line talent.
The Saints are desperate to add more A-Grade midfielders and are certain to come hard for the Rye product, who also has links with Bombers’ coach Brad Scott at Tullamarine.
The strong interest means Davies-Uniacke, 24, is certain to defer any talks on his contract until next year when clubs will zero in on him as the likely No. 1 free agency target from the 2025 crop.
North Melbourne’s direction will be a key factor in Davies-Uniacke’s contract decision following just 18 wins from the first 91 games of his career.
Davies-Uniacke is arguably the most important player at North Melbourne after finishing second in the best and fairest in 2022 before soft-tissue injuries hit him last year.
And talent experts believe at 188cm Davies-Uniacke has the power and burst speed to become one of the most damaging on-ballers in the game in a competitive team.
Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd said on 3AW a “sense of hopelessness” had set in at Arden St this year after a winless start to the season including Sunday’s 45-point loss to Hawthorn.
“Aside from playing the kids, I don’t see a direction,” Matthew Lloyd said on 3AW.
“It’s hard to see what they are trying to do and you would hope that (coach Alastair) Clarkson could have taught them to defend at least, but they are all over the shop behind the ball.”
Making up the group of 2025 free agents, GWS Giants have made progress in talks with Sam Taylor’s new Sydney-based manager, Brisbane is confident it can lock away Cam Rayner, while Fremantle and West Coast have high hopes about extensions for Andrew Brayshaw (Dockers) and Oscar Allen (Eagles).
Davies-Uniacke could consider following Ben McKay out the door at Arden St with the fullback enjoying a fresh start at Essendon ahead of Thursday’s Anzac Day blockbuster at a sold-out MCG.
Weighing in the Kangaroos’ favour is the loyalty the midfielder has already shown at North over his first seven years and his strong friendships with teammates.
Davies-Uniacke is arguably the most important player at North Melbourne but the lack of team success would be a major frustration for the line breaker.
Carlton superstar Patrick Cripps showed enormous patience with the Blues before the club finally took off under coach Michael Voss in Cripps’ ninth year narrowly missing finals in 2022.
The closest the Davies-Uniacke has come to playing finals was his first season in 2019 when the Roos finished 9th under former coach Scott and interim boss Rhyce Shaw.
The Roos have since gone backwards winning 10 games in 2019, three (2020), four (2021), two (2022) and three (2023).
Their average losing margin this year is 52 points a game. Davies-Uniacke has averaged 27 disposals and six clearances a game for the last-placed Kangas this year.
Former North Melbourne great David King said “Kangaroos’ fans are sick of the meandering” and questioned the rate of progress under Clarkson.
“Alastair came as a high-priced acquisition to fix this and it is second-year now and we need to start seeing some that makes us proud,” King said on SEN.
“(We are) Too quick to say he (Clarkson) knows the answers, he has got the answers. I don’t see it. You need evidence at some point.”
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