NORTH Melbourne and Melbourne still have a bit to work through when it comes to how - and if - young forward Zane Duursma will make his way to the Demons this trade period. 

The exciting Duursma has requested a trade to Melbourne, but how a deal will be struck remains to be seen. 

North Melbourne list manager Brady Rawlings still holds out hope that Duursma could remain at Arden Street, despite his trade request. 

"It depends on what Melbourne wants to put forward to us. We'd obviously love to keep Zane and he has so much potential, we've seen it in parts over the last three years. As we progress our footy club, we really see him playing a major part for us, we value him really highly," Rawlings told AFL.com.au on Monday.

"He's requested a trade to Melbourne and being out of contract we need to look at it. But I still think we could talk him around if it wasn't of value to us.

"There's no bad blood here. He's indicated he wanted a fresh start, but I've got no doubt that he and his manager understand what we've invested in him, both from a time and resources point of view (and) what we gave up three years ago at the draft."

Rawlings was adamant the Roos would not trade Duursma if they were unsatisfied with what the Demons would give them in return. 

"If it's not of value to us with what we can use going forward, then we'd be really keen to try and talk him back around to coming back to our footy club," Rawlings said.

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"When you request a trade you obviously are pretty adamant where you want to get to. But if it's not of value to us then we’re not going to trade a player that we value really highly, that we used pick four on and get hardly anything in return. That's just a part of our plans going forward."

Drafted out of the Gippsland Power, Duursma has booted 28 goals in 38 games for North Melbourne since being taken with the fourth selection in the 2023 draft.

"We've got a commitment from Zane Duursma who would like to join the club, so that’s something we’ll look to achieve over the next couple of weeks," Melbourne list manager Tim Lamb told AFL.com.au on Monday.

"We've had a couple of chats, but they've been preliminary at the moment. We think it's a pretty easy one to value but our position and North's will probably be a bit different at the start as it always is, but we're confident it’ll get there."

The Dees say they are not interested in splitting pick 10 as it stands and are keen to be active in the draft again this year after landing some talented youth last season. 

"We've got a real strong focus again to hit the draft this year. We think that will really round out our position with another two first-rounders this year."