NORTH Melbourne has joined Carlton in trying to lure goalkicker Tom Papley out of Sydney.
The Blues have been public in their ambitions to add to their small forward ranks this off-season, and are keen to pry Papley from the Swans.
But AFL.com.au understands the Blues are not alone in the hunt for Papley, with the Kangaroos also circling.
New North Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw has a strong relationship with Papley from his time at the Swans as an assistant coach.
The Swans remain adamant that Papley will remain with the club next year and have a strong position after AFL.com.au revealed that the 23-year-old is contracted to the club until the end of 2023 after reaching a trigger clause.
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But clubs have felt Papley could be on the move having been unsettled in Sydney at different stages of the past 12 months.
He has not requested a trade from the Swans, who are steadfast that he will not be leaving to return home to Victoria. He was originally drafted as a rookie out of the Gippsland Power at the end of 2015.
It is unclear whether the changes within North Melbourne's recruiting and list management department will affect its interest in Papley.
The club confirmed this week it will be parting ways with list manager Michael McMahon in coming weeks after three years in the role.
North currently holds pick seven at the NAB AFL Draft, with Carlton's first pick coming at No.8 (which was tied to Adelaide's position).
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Carlton list manager Michael Agresta, who was part of the recruiting team at Sydney that selected Papley in the draft, last week couldn't be drawn on the Blues' interest in him when he spoke to the Road to the Draft podcast.
"We're not going to discuss other players, especially contracted players. We're really respectful of the privacy and some conversations that go on between clubs," Agresta said.
Papley has played 82 games for the Swans in four seasons with the club, booting 120 goals.
He enjoyed his best season in 2019, kicking 37 goals from 22 games and being Sydney's leading goalkicker.
