PORT Adelaide midfielder Jared Polec has signaled his intentions to join North Melbourne in this year's NAB AFL Trade Period.
The 25-year-old has informed the Power of his desire to leave the club, with North Melbourne offering a five-year deal worth more than $3.5million.
The deal is understood to have trumped Port's offer by two years and about $2 million.
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Despite interest from St Kilda and a three-year offer from the Power, Polec appears set to join the Roos until at least the end of 2023.
Polec's contract is believed to be front-ended, the Roos with plenty of room to move in the 2019 salary cap.
Polec told Channel Ten the "quite substantial" gap between North's and Port's offers had been a key factor in his decision, saying he would "definitely have weighed it up" had the Power offered him a four-year deal.
"I definitely would have been questioning it a lot more," Polec said.
Having made his decision, Polec and his partner, Alison, who is Victorian, were now looking forward to the future.
"It's a weight off my shoulders, we can move on with our lives now and start planning for the future," Polec said.
"Telling the boys and the family was probably a lot easier than telling Kenny (Port coach Ken Hinkley). I was a bit nervous going into Kenny's office.
"(North) has got the hard midfield who will definitely make my job a lot easier sitting on the outside, that's for sure."
North Melbourne confirmed on Thursday Polec's desire to move to Arden Street.
"Jared has indicated his intent to cross to us during the trade period, provided a deal can be reached with Port Adelaide," head of football Cameron Joyce said.
"If everything pans out, as we expect, we'd be delighted to have Jared as he will add some elite qualities to our team.
"We'll sit down with Port Adelaide in the coming weeks and hopefully agree to a mutually beneficial trade."
Earlier in the day the Power released a statement confirming Polec's preference to be traded to a Victorian club "if a new agreement with Port Adelaide cannot be reached."
With a deal needing to be struck, the Power is set to demand North Melbourne's first-round draft pick, currently No.10, before a swap of later picks.
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The Power will be hoping to part with no more than a third-round pick, while the Roos will be pushing for a second-round selection in order to gain draft points.
Set to select Next Generation Academy prospect Tarryn Thomas in this year's NAB AFL Draft, the Roos are looking to bank draft picks to meet the requirements for a rival club's bid.
Having failed to secure a number of star midfielders in recent years including Josh Kelly, Dustin Martin and Adam Treloar, Polec will provide the Roos' engine room with much-needed class.
With Polec's commitment, the Roos will turn their attention to landing West Coast free agent Andrew Gaff on a long-term deal.
Polec added 90 games in five seasons at Alberton, having moved from Brisbane at the end of 2013 to be closer to family.
He was selected by the Lions with pick five in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft.
