OUT-OF-CONTRACT North Melbourne tall Majak Daw wants to stay at Arden Street despite limited senior opportunities and growing interest from rival clubs.
Daw's manager, Shane Casley of TLA-ESP, told AFL.com.au contract talks with North had yet to begin in earnest, but said his client had no interest in talking to opposition clubs at the moment.
"Majak is happy at North Melbourne and wants to stay there. At the appropriate time we'll sit down with North and work through things," Casley said.
The ruckman/forward has again found senior games hard to come by this season despite strong form in the VFL.
With Todd Goldstein continuing to shoulder the bulk of the Roos' ruck duties, and Drew Petrie, Jarrad Waite and Ben Brown North's preferred tall trio in attack, Daw has played just four senior matches – none of them consecutively – in 2016.
But the 25-year-old continues to look more and more assured when given the chance at AFL level, something that has not gone unnoticed by rival clubs. His ability to combine ruck and forward-line duties is also likely to be in demand this trade period.
Asked about the extent of external interest in Daw, Casley said simply: "We're not pursuing it, we're not seeking it."
North faces some tough list management decisions on its attack at the end of this season.
Petrie and Waite, both 33, have publicly indicated they want to play on, but with fellow forwards Brown, 23, and Mason Wood, 22, likely senior regulars next season the Roos could decide at least one of the veterans needs to move on to create opportunities for Daw.
North coach Brad Scott has several times this year stated the Roos' desire to keep Daw beyond 2016, saying he has a bright future at the club.
"There will be speculation throughout the year, but we've got a lot of faith in Majak," Scott said in June.
"You don't have to look too deeply at our forwards, particularly their age, to see that there's going to be great opportunity here at North Melbourne for a long time."
Daw has played 20 senior games since debuting in 2013, but has a golden chance to cement himself in North's team ahead of this year's finals with Waite (hip) not expected to return before the end of the home and away season.
Daw shapes as Waite's logical replacement and seemed to rubberstamp his recall with a four-goal game for Werribee last Sunday.