North Melbourne could be ready to swoop on Richmond tall Callum Coleman-Jones this off-season, with a deal worth north of $2 million and first-string ruck duties being key factors in potentially luring the 22-year-old away from Punt Road.
According to Fox Sports' Tom Morris, the Kangaroos - along with the Suns - are likely to have a five-year deal tabled to the ruck/forward utility, with an exit from the Tigers now looking likely.
It is understood that Coleman-Jones is keen to play more minutes in the ruck, with North Melbourne potentially seeing the young tall as a formidable successor to veteran Todd Goldstein.
A lucrative deal believed to be over $400,000-per-season by the Kangaroos is likely to have the Tigers out of contention to retain Coleman-Jones' services.
Speaking on AFL Tonight, Morris revealed that the Richmond forward will likely be at Arden Street next season.
“Callum Coleman Jones, rivals believe he’ll be at North Melbourne next year on a long-term deal – probably a five-year deal on somewhere between $400,000 to $450,000, a year,” Morris said.
“I believe it’s going to be this long-term deal for five years. Gold Coast also offered five years, but Coleman-Jones wants to play more in the ruck.
“This will be a great win for North Melbourne. It is a bit of a blow to the Tigers, but they just couldn’t justify the length of deal or the money that Coleman-Jones clearly wanted and that North Melbourne and Gold Coast were offering.”
Coleman-Jones enjoyed a strong campaign this year, booting four goals in his return to the senior side in Round 11, and adding a further seven games to his tally despite injury setbacks.
The Tigers have managed to secure the signatures of a bevy of key names ahead of next season in what has been an impressive retention drive.
Noah Balta (2023), Shai Bolton (2023), Jason Castagna (2023), Thomson Dow (2023), Dylan Grimes (2023), Rhyan Mansell (2023), Kamdyn McIntosh (2023), Dion Prestia (2024), Daniel Rioli (2022), Jack Riewoldt (2022) and Nick Vlastuin (2026) have all inked new deals in 2021.
Despite the glowing record of re-signings, Richmond are yet to see Coleman-Jones and fellow tall Mabior Chol sign on the dotted line.
The Suns are tipped to land Chol this off-season, with the Richmond free agent likely to make a return to Queensland and be closer to his family.
