WITH speculation rife that Josh Kelly will join Dustin Martin in rebuffing a huge contract offer from North Melbourne, Kangaroos coach Brad Scott says the club's war chest will grow for future raids on star players.

The Kangaroos have been public in a desire to add some star power to their young and inexperienced list, and tabled multi-million dollar long-term deals to Kelly and Martin.

Kelly is expected to recommit to Greater Western Sydney for a further two seasons, while late last month, Martin elected to remain at Punt Road for a reported $1.3M. a season over seven years.

Scott said while North was aggressive in its attempts to lure the star duo, he conceded the Kangaroos were more optimistic than confident on winning their services.

The North players in contract limbo

"I think there's always an element of hope … (because) possession is nine-tenths of the law and the players generally stay," Scott told SEN on Friday.

"We made some well-documented changes to our list last year to give us ultimate flexibility to be able to target some top-end talent.

"We acknowledge we need to get some top-end talent to supplement what we've already got, and our board gave the list management committee a directive to be very bold at the (trade and free agency) table and aggressive.

"Every time you miss out, while it's disappointing, it just builds that war chest even further to keep being aggressive."

North shake-up: Two assistants out

Scott denied speculation he knocked back an approach to coach the Gold Coast Suns because he believed Martin would accept the offer to join the Kangaroos.

"People have been making it up," Scott said. 

"'There was one occasion I rang (my manager) Craig Kelly and said 'Ned, there isn't something going on that I don't know about, is there?'

"Because people are telling me things only I could know.

"Nothing could have been further from the truth."