NORTH Melbourne's mega offer to Giants young gun Josh Kelly is music to coach Brad Scott's ears, but he has distanced himself from the multi-million dollar recruiting coup.
The Kangaroos' brazen nine-year offer – reportedly worth about $9million – emerged mid-week ahead of Saturday's clash with Greater Western Sydney at their home away from home in Hobart.
Key defender gets the nod as 1000th Shinboner
Kelly, the No.2 pick in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, is one of the hottest midfield commodities in the game and grew up supporting North Melbourne, where his father Phil played 61 games.
The 22-year-old won 27 disposals in each of the Giants' opening two matches this year against Adelaide and Gold Coast, adding three goals in the latter.
"He'd be a nice player to coach, that's for sure," Scott told reporters.
"He's an exceptional young player and I understand there's going to be a lot of speculation about him, but my job is to coach the team – not to speculate on potential player movement.
"(But) we're always looking to improve our list. We've got a really clear strategy with what we're setting up.
"The problem with the industry now is there's going to be a lot of speculation, innuendo and rumour, because that's what it is."
Scott joked that club officials had lobbied the AFL to lower the father-son rule from 100 games to 50 to enable the Roos to snare Kelly four years ago.
North has launched a number of unsuccessful bids in recent years for wantaway midfielders Adam Treloar and Hamish Hartlett, as well as Sydney Swans rising star Isaac Heeney.
The club is reportedly also a player in the Dustin Martin sweepstakes.
The Kangaroos have instead settled in that time for lower-profile additions, including Shaun Higgins, Nathan Hrovat, Paul Ahern, Jed Anderson and Marley Williams.
"I think we've got some good ones over the last few years," Scott said, sporting a wry grin.
"It's a competitive environment out there and we just want to be in a position where we can compete with the best.
"I'm just a member of the list management committee, with one voice, but my primary function is to coach the team, (whereas) their primary function is to look after the list."
GWS officials remain confident in retaining Kelly's services.
