Why North Melbourne’s shock draft night trade might be justifiable

North Melbourne shocked the footy world on Wednesday night, trading their future first-round pick for Richmond’s pick 27 and the Tigers’ future second-round pick.

With that pick 27, the Roos selected key tall Matt Whitlock from the Murray Bushrangers, a prospect the club reportedly rated inside the top 15 on draft night.

While the Roos clearly viewed that the trade was worth it, many fans didn’t feel the same, voicing their displeasure on social media as many expect that future first-round pick to be an early selection in the 2025 Draft.

Although it’s easy to argue that position, SEN host Sam Edmund didn’t hate the move from the Roos given the sheer amount of young talent they’ve brought into the club after finishing no higher than 17th over all of the last five seasons.

“How much young talent do you need?” Edmund asked on SEN Breakfast.

“They've added Finn O'Sullivan to a young, dynamic midfield group already.

“So maybe they figure they've got enough in that regard and maybe they're sending a message that the time to really do some vaulting up the ladder is now.”

Cameron Mooney, who started his career with North Melbourne, also called for Kangaroos fans not to measure how the trade looks based on 2025 alone as he expects Whitlock to spend a few years developing before the tall really starts to deliver.

“They’ve been in desperate need of another key forward,” Mooney said.

“Now, most key forwards don't come out and play straight away, particularly consistently.

“So, he's going to be a work in progress, but over the next two or three years, you get some games into him and he's all of a sudden flying.

“I don't think there was a question of who they picked. It was just very surprising that they’ve gone from pick 27 to giving up a more than likely top-five pick next year.

“Yes, they get a future around second pick as well, we know that, but it's just a big question.”

North Melbourne enters night two of the draft armed with picks 54, 72 and 82.