NORTH Melbourne has engaged veteran football administrator Graeme Allan as a part-time consultant as it strives to land the big fish that has eluded it in recent player exchange periods.
Allan has more than 30 years' experience in the AFL, having worked as football manager at Collingwood, Brisbane and Greater Western Sydney, and been particularly active in list management and trades.
Allan will consult with North's list management team as it prepares to make plays later this year for rival stars including Andrew Gaff and Jordan De Goey.
His role will primarily be strategic, with the Kangaroos keen to tap into of his experience that includes recruiting stars such as Nathan Buckley and Anthony Rocca to Collingwood, and Tom Scully, Callan Ward and Phil Davis to Greater Western Sydney.
The Kangaroos have considerable space in their salary cap to bring in up to two stars but since landing free agents Nick Dal Santo (2013), Jarrad Waite and Shaun Higgins (both 2014), they have been unsuccessful in big-money plays for players such as Dustin Martin, Josh Kelly, Adam Treloar, Isaac Heeney and Dan Hannebery.
North hopes Allan's vast experience could give it the edge it needs to pull off a big-name trade or free agency coup.
Allan has not worked in the AFL industry since he was suspended for 12 months in late 2016 after arranging for Giants midfielder Lachie Whitfield to stay at GWS welfare manager Craig Lambert's home in a potential breach of the AFL anti-doping code.
It is understood Allan started his role at North this month after discussions with North coach Brad Scott, who he knew from their time with the Brisbane Lions in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
