'Family ties are really strong': Roos open to Blakey move, eye more defenders

North Melbourne is looking to boost its backline this trade period

By Dejan Kalinic and Martin Smith

NORTH Melbourne would look at a move for Sydney star Nick Blakey if he requests a trade from the Swans.

As reported by AFL.com.au's Cal Twomey, Blakey is set to canvas rival options in the coming days and clubs believe the defender will speak with interested teams.

While Blakey has had his eyes on Geelong, North list boss Brady Rawlings said the Roos would get involved if Blakey seeks a move.

Blakey's dad John played 224 games for North, helping the club win two premierships.

"I'd hope we'd be an option for him if he decided that he really wanted a trade," Rawlings told Gettable on Continental Tyres AFL Trade Radio.

"The big thing here is Sydney and what they're prepared to do if a request comes. That hasn't been the case at this stage. We're really not considering that as an option given there hasn't been a trade request.

"If a trade request comes, no doubt we'll be trying to get involved. We've known Nick since he was born and obviously the family ties are really strong with the Kangas.

"He was in our father-son program for many a year and we used to fly him down most school holidays.

"There's a lot of ties there, but we need to wait and see if that trade request would come and then obviously whether the Swans would entertain it or not."

Having missed out on Jordan Ridley and with Nick Murray no certainty to join the club, North says it is looking at other options to improve its defence.

Ridley had been courted by the Roos before his move to Geelong was confirmed on Wednesday, while running defender Josh Goater is set to depart Arden St after requesting a trade to Hawthorn.

The Roos have strong interest in Murray, but may struggle to get him to the club given he is still contracted at Adelaide.

North's list boss Brady Rawlings said the club is looking at other options in case the Murray deal falls through having also missed out on Ridley.

"We're still looking to improve our defence. Nick Murray is certainly not over the line for us, so we need to look at other options as well," Rawlings said.

"And with Josh (Goater) ... asking for a trade, we're actually losing players out of our defence, rather than gaining them.

"We need to keep looking at how we can improve our defence and if things like that fall over, we need to be there and ready to go."

North's initial offer for Murray on Monday was knocked back by the Crows, and Rawlings said there is plenty of work to do to.

"We probably have to work through with the Crows and Nick's management around is there anything that would get this deal done?" he said.

"We need to ascertain that and work towards something that might turn their heads."