How Nick Blakey can get to the Roos and what it will cost them

North Melbourne’s bold play for aggrieved Swans defender Nick Blakey could cost them in other ways as the Kangaroos close in on finally luring a big-name star.

Blakey’s manager, Robbie D’Orazio, informed the Swans on Friday morning that his contracted client, an All-Australian two years ago, was requesting a trade to North, where his father John played in the 1996 and 1999 flags.

The dashing half-back flanker made his call after the Roos presented him with a lucrative eight-year offer worth well more than $1 million annually , but the complication is he still has five seasons left on his Sydney deal.

The Saints reportedly offered as many as three first-round picks to try to convince the Swans to trade Blakey to them, but could not earn the player’s commitment. However, that offer could force North Melbourne to pony up a strong package.

Gold Coast, Geelong and Essendon also showed varying levels of interest in Blakey, although the Cats effectively ruled themselves out once they sent their first-round pick this year to St Kilda on Thursday for Rowan Marshall.

Outside the Bombers’ top pick, which they stated they were highly unlikely to move, the Kangaroos’ No.5 pick was the best single trade chip of the clubs chasing Blakey.

North Melbourne would have some great options if they took pick five to the draft, including the ability to snare the best key defender, widely considered to be South Australia’s Mitch Harris.

That is the Roos’ greatest positional need, and why they are so desperately hoping to convince Adelaide to trade contracted backman Nick Murray.

However, if North offload the No.5 selection in any Blakey-related deal, including potentially “splitting” it to gain multiple picks, there would be even greater urgency to secure Murray because their next-best selection this year is not until 45.

Essendon will bid on Port Adelaide’s next-generation academy prospect Dougie Cochrane at No.1, while GWV Rebels midfielder Ethan Drever is believed to be the frontrunner for Essendon’s “live” pick once the Power match them to snare Cochrane.

As per new AFL rules, that bid would also trigger start-of-second-round selections for all the bottom five clubs, including the Kangaroos – but only if they retain their first pick.

North Melbourne would give up the chance for that extra second-round selection if they trade the No.5 choice, so that must be baked into this. They had dangled their future first-round pick in early negotiations for Murray, but that may need to be part of any Blakey package, so this gets complicated quickly.

Richmond, West Coast and the Roos would be next in line in the draft after the Bombers once the Cochrane bid occurs.

Port Adelaide have agreed to trade their No.4 pick as part of an extensive five-club mega deal that will score them, among other assets, the sixth and 10th selections in next month’s draft, if the AFL approves it.