IF ZANE Duursma is to progress the way that many have projected, the former No.4 draft pick must knuckle down and improve his work rate, manager David Trotter has warned.

Speaking on Continental Tyres AFL Trade Radio, Trotter gave an extensive insight into why Duursma sought a trade to Melbourne just three years after being drafted by North Melbourne.

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The deal was completed on Tuesday afternoon with North Melbourne receiving picks No.33 and 49 from Melbourne in exchange for Duursma and pick No.52.

The second of four siblings – along with Xavier (at Essendon), Yasmin (at Carlton AFLW) and Willem (West Coast) to make the elite level, Duursma has played 38 games and kicked 28 goals, but has struggled to justify the hype of his lofty draft selection.

Trotter was blunt in explaining why things haven't worked yet, saying Zane and his brothers were different characters whose AFL journeys were destined to follow different paths.

"It hasn't worked in three years, and Zane takes a lot of accountability for that," Trotter said.

"He's got to learn what's required to play AFL footy, the work rate, which he's getting better at.

"If you ask his family, they knew his progression from the start.

"Dean and Susie, his mum and dad, had a very good read on the kids when we first signed Xavier, even what Willem was going to be like as a 10-year-old running around the table.

"He (Zane) was never going to come in and work it all out straight away, like Willem has. Willem is an athlete, gifted, got the work rate required.

"Zane was always going to take a while and North knew that … they flagged that when they drafted him."

Trotter said he understood the frustration from North and its supporters thinking they'd invested time in a high-end talent, only for him to request a trade.

"People think he's taking the easy way out, I actually think it's the opposite," Trotter said.

"Zane is sitting there thinking his career hasn't panned out like he wanted it to, so he's putting himself under some pressure.

"It's a pay cut to go there. It's a new environment and he thinks putting himself under pressure is what's required.

"I hope it can happen, but it's a risk for him. I hope it works and so does he."