North Melbourne has performed a backflip that would have done Nadia Comaneci proud, declaring star ruckman Hamish McIntosh off-limits just two days after offering him as trade bait during the AFL's annual trade week.
As the third day of the AFL's trade week passed without any deals being completed - ahead of Friday's 2pm deadline - the Kangaroos released a statement saying the club was 'no longer prepared to entertain a trade for Hamish McIntosh'.
The Roos' backflip comes after it became apparent that no club would be willing to give up a first round draft pick for the 24-year-old, who has played 57 games over the past four seasons.
Kangaroos' coach Dean Laidley volunteered McIntosh's name as a potential trade during Monday's annual trade day - much to the shock of the star ruckman and his manager Tom Petroro.
In backtracking on Wednesday, the Roos said McIntosh's name had only been put forward because of the considerable interest all clubs are showing in trying to attract ruckmen during the current trade period - which comes ahead of the last uncompromised draft before the introduction of the new Gold Coast and West Sydney teams in coming seasons.
"Talent manager Cameron Joyce subsequently canvassed the clubs who had shown
interest in the players up for trade and it became apparent that there would be
no acceptable offers for Hamish McIntosh," the Roos said in their statement on Wednesday.
"In keeping with the North Melbourne Football Club's strategy and the considerable value it places on Hamish, at no stage would the club have entertained anything other than an exceptional and outstanding offer (a low first round pick) for Hamish."
With that offer not forthcoming - all clubs are reluctant to give up first round draft picks this season given that after this year's draft, such picks will be much further down the draft order - the Roos decided to withdraw McIntosh's name from trade talks.
However the Roos defended their tactics on Wednesday despite offering McIntosh for trade just after he had signed a new deal with the club and just one year after he finished fourth in the club's best and fairest and narrowly missed All-Australian selection in 2007.
"Irrespective of uninformed media speculation, the North Melbourne Football Club
makes no apologies for taking the bold decision to explore all options with the stated
aim of improving our playing list," the club said.
"This decision was consistent with a long-term list strategy developed in response to
the challenges presented to all existing clubs by the entry of the two new AFL franchises."
Petroro said McIntosh never wanted to leave the Kangaroos and is delighted he is staying with the club.
"From my discussions with Hamish never once did he entertain leaving the Kangaroos, he loves Arden Street and is fully committed to assisting the club throughout the rest of his career to achieve premiership success."