Trade talk: The "extreme" measures North must take to improve list

North Melbourne are just a key defender away from ending their September drought, and Kane Cornes would stop at nothing to plug the hole ahead of 2027.

After Carlton’s draw to the Western Bulldogs, the Kangaroos have now officially missed the finals for their 10th straight season having lost to Geelong on Saturday.

However, their improvement was obvious and was on show against Geelong, pulling out to a near 40-point lead before being clawed back late in the contest.

Nearly doubling their win tally from last season, the Roos are evidently on the right path, however, with a lack of key stocks behind the ball, Cornes believes it’s time to go all in on the best available tall defender.

“Nothing is going to age more poorly than Brady Rawlings (North Melbourne list manager) saying we don’t need to go and get a defender in the trade period,” Cornes told SEN Fireball.

“Because we’ve got Wil Dawson, we’ve got Griffin Logue, we’ve got Toby Pink and we’ve got Aidan Corr.

“They took six intercept marks for the game. Six to 17, and three of them were from Cam Zurhaar, who was really strong. None of their key defenders were really influential at all.

“So, if you have to trade a mid… there are no excuses not to get a decent key defender for North Melbourne.

“That cost them that game, it may have cost them a spot in the Wildcard final.

“This sounds extreme, but if you need to trade Colby McKercher, if you need to trade Jy Simpkin, it’s to that drastic level.

“Don’t worry about trading future second round draft picks and trying to get a cheap deal on a key defender.

“If you need to give up something big to go and get Jacob Weitering or whoever it is, the best one out there that you can get, give something decent up.

“You may not win the trade, but you’ll win across the board when it comes to next season.

“You are not going to be doing anything significant with Logue and Charlie Comben, who is really good, but he can’t be the only one as a key defender back there.”

North Melbourne champion David King believes that the Roos could already have their next star defender performing in the front half, expressing his disappointment in their decision not to trial the talented Roo down back.

“Eight to 10 weeks ago, you spoke about having a look at Cooper Trembath at centre half back,” he said.

“That’s something I would have had a look at this season. You would love to have known, maybe he is the answer.

“Not that he is a failed forward, he is a very good forward, but he could be an elite centre half back.

“Intercept machine, he is as brave as brave, and he is not an awful kick. He can keep you going.

“Griffin Logue just makes too many errors. He was so error-riddled, it became a goal machine.

“Something needs to change down back with personnel.”

North Melbourne close their season against the Swans at the SCG this Sunday afternoon.