Scott Cummings has suggested that North Melbourne wingman Jared Polec is "possibly overpaid".
Polec joined the Kangaroos on a five-year deal worth a reported $3.5 million after requesting a trade away from Port Adelaide in 2018.
After being dropped for the Round 9 win over Adelaide the hard-running Roo was recalled for Wednesday night’s match against Geelong at the Gabba.
Speaking on AFL Nation, Cummings thinks Polec is in North’s best 22 and is intrigued to see how he responds to his shock axing.
“I looked at this and went, ‘Geez he’s unlucky to be dropped’. He got coaches’ votes as well the week before,” the 1999 Coleman Medallist said.
“You sit there and go, ‘There’s more to that’ … why have they dropped him?
“Rhyce Shaw has asked him to play a certain role, work on some deficiencies, and he hasn’t done it. That’s what I think.
“I’ll be perfectly honest and suggest that he’s possibly overpaid … I don’t think he’s a $700,000 a year footballer, but he’s in their best 22.
“Let’s see how Jared Polec responds, let’s see what he’s got between the ears and whether he can say, ‘Ok, I know what I’ve got to do and I’m going to do it’.”
Polec was one of four changes for tonight’s match with star forward Ben Brown, Will Walker and debutant Lachlan Hosie named to face the Cats.
North Melbourne snapped a six-game losing streak by demolishing the Crows by 69 points last time out.