North Melbourne's former Pick 4 in the national draft, Zane Duursma, has requested a trade to Melbourne after three seasons at AFL level.
The 21-year-old mid-sized forward no doubt has mercurial abilities, but he is yet to dominate an AFL game or show any consistency at the grade.
This means placing a price on Duursma, who originally cost the Roos a lot at the draft - Hawthorn star Nick Watson went the pick after him - is hard to figure out.
North Melbourne won't want to lose out on the deal, and given Duursma is not a free agent, Melbourne will have to trade for him. The Demons can't walk him through the draft either, as the Kangaroos finished lower than them on the ladder, allowing the Roos first dibs.
The AFL trade period begins in a month, meaning the Roos and Dees have four weeks to plan out what they want to secure in the deal. Here are three ways we think the deal for Duursma to become a Demon can get done:
Three-club trade
Carlton trade: Picks 17, 24
Carlton receive: Pick 10
Melbourne trade: Pick 10
Melbourne receive: Duursma, Pick 17
North Melbourne trade: Zane Duursma
North Melbourne receive: Pick 24
Could this three-way trade between the Blues, Roos and Dees unlock the deal?
For Carlton, this trade would see the Blues move up the draft order to help compensate for the Cody Walker bid, which will come early in the draft. Or the combination of Pick 10 and its current Pick 11 could allow the Blues to move further up the draft order again.
Melbourne secures Duursma while still holding onto a second first-round selection with Pick 17 to go with its current Pick 6. The Demons will back in their proven ability to develop young players to get the best out of the athletic Duursma.
North Melbourne then would receive an early second-round selection at Pick 24, which appears harsh given Duursma went at Pick 4.
But his lack of growth so far and the fact that it seems he is only capable of playing that third forward, mid-sized role, a pick in the 20s is probably fair.
Trades such as these are never as simple as the one listed above, so a few extra pick swaps later in the draft would be expected to be added on.
