North Melbourne list boss Brady Rawlings has walked out on journalists amid a tense line of questioning over the recruitment of suspended Swan Nick Blakey on Tuesday.
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Blakey was today traded to the Kangaroos alongside pick 52 and a 2028 second-rounder in exchange for picks 6 and 47, a 2027 second-rounder and both a first and second-round pick in 2028.
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But the decision to recruit a player still embroiled in the current investigation into Sydney’s Pullman Hotel scandal has been controversial – as proven by Tuesday’s press conference that was abruptly ended by North Melbourne’s media manager.
“He was asked Brady Rawlings today about eight or nine questions about Nick Blakey and more so the cultural aspect as opposed to bringing him in, what he brings to the club from an on-field perspective,” Fox Footy’s David Zita explained on Trading Day.
“He was asked a few questions and then asked one particular question relating to former player Tarryn Thomas … North Melbourne’s media manager Michael Tormey stepped in and called it quits for the presser.
“A bit of a tense end to a press conference today at Arden Street.”
The question was asked: “Are you worried you’re going to have another Tarryn Thomas situation?”
And Rawlings then replied: “I don’t know why that would come into play at all.”
Tormey could be heard in the background stating: “Alright we might call it here … Getting the same questions.
“Nah that’s it, thanks guys.”
“I know it’s just one incident, but it goes to show how this isn’t just a stock standard recruiting,” Zita added of the moment.
Fox Footy’s Scott Gullan remained adamant the recruitment of Blakey on a reported eight-year, $12m deal was “good business” and defended the star’s role in that now current police investigation.
“This started why he was disgruntled, that’s why he’s moved obviously,” he shared.
“It started the morning after the Pullman incident. His management were briefing people saying he wasn’t in the room at the start.
“All this has still got to play out in a police investigation – we understand that. He became upset that he came home later than they did, he went into the room. Was walking past, there was music like ‘oh I’ll go in’. He was in the room – that can’t be denied.
“But then the fallout later on, he felt like he was being pinned as one of the instigators for the whole thing.
“Yes he was doing the wrong thing by being out late at night etc. But from that point that’s where this has been born. He became disgruntled.
“As more progressed, he became more and more like ‘maybe I don’t fit here’. He hasn’t been able to get his head around the finger pointed at him over this whole thing.”
Bulldogs great Brad Johnson believes the decision to add Blakey – and potentially Crows backman Nick Murray on Wednesday – was the start of a successful era for the Roos.
“They get a player that can ultimately change their dynamic instantly,” he said.
“His dad was a gun. Just so well respected in the competition. And now Nick gets to pull on the Kangaroos colours.
“He’s a highlight reel with the way that he plays his footy.
“The type of standard that he can set on-field, can he help you rise from eight wins to 12 wins? Yes absolutely!
“Can he be part of a back six that generates into a premiership back six into the future for North Melbourne? Absolutely he can be.
“There’s all those positives that work for the Kangaroos. It mightn’t be in an instant over the next 12 months but over the next three or four years under Jaymie Graham with Nick Blakey leading their back six, it can develop into a side that can contend.”
The Roos have currently offered both pick 33 and a 2027 first-rounder for Nick Murray in a deal Gullan described as “pretty good”.
“If you have a look at North Melbourne’s backline this year, Round 24 the last time they represented it was Daniel, Comben, Hardeman, Parker, Logue and McKercher – that’s the starting back six for the Kangaroos,” Johnson explained.
“With Blakey coming in … and if they manage to get Nick Murray tomorrow as well, it takes a different look instantly. Especially the big winner out of this is Combden.
“He’s the one desperately seeking some assistance down back.
“It helps his role. If Murray can take the big, the real big, then Combden can actually float. He’s good in the air and can start to play a more assertive game than what he’s able to do at the moment.
“It’s a different dynamic if they can secure Murray tomorrow.”
“It’s finals-like if they can get Murray and Blakey. It’s finals bare minimum,” Anthony Hudson added.
While the addition of Blakey bolstered that under siege backline, an update on the Pullman Five investigation was given and how that affects North given the recruitment of one of those players.
“From all accounts it seems around a month away from hearing anything from police as to what is happening or what isn’t happening,” Zita said.
“There’s still a significant element of uncertainty.”
“You’d think they’ve (North) spoken to the AFL obviously,” Gullan replied.
“They would have a sense whether, because Sydney did the penalty. Obviously the police have to sort it. But there’s also the AFL potential penalty.
“But we don’t know whether they’re going to add on or not (to the Swans’ suspension served).
“They might come back and say we were happy with what Sydney did. That was enough, we’re all ready to move on.
“I would think North Melbourne have done some due diligence from the league – clearly the league knows more than they are letting on. They have to, to tick the box (and accept the Blakey trade).”
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