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NORTH Melbourne midfielder Levi Greenwood has requested a trade to Collingwood, less than four days after finishing third in the Roos' 2014 best and fairest award.
It's believed the Magpies have offered Greenwood a four-year deal worth $1.8 million.
The Roos recently offered the uncontracted 25-year-old an improved three-year deal that they hoped would convince him to stay at Aegis Park.
However, Greenwood, who is holidaying in Bali, informed North Melbourne coach Brad Scott on Tuesday morning that he wanted to continue his AFL career at Collingwood.
Greenwood's manager Liam Pickering told NAB AFL Trade Radio that he had been trying to get a deal done with North Melbourne all year but in the end it was too late.
"The first offer from North Melbourne was in July, which I did say at the time was underwhelming," Pickering said.
"North, in the end they came up with an offer that would have probably been accepted three months to be fair, or two months ago even.
"But it came late and the fact that it sort of did drag out to that stage where he was still uncontracted up until now meant that other clubs would get involved and when they did they got involved in a heavy way.
"Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs were really keen and in the end he's spoken to the coach from Bali and he wants to go to Collingwood."
The Western Bulldogs had also made a lucrative offer to lure Greenwood away from North, while Richmond had shown earlier interest in the midfielder.
"The Bulldogs were terrific, the way they went about it," Pickering said.
"They probably had the better offer but in the end Collingwood was the better fit in his own mind, that's how Levi thought. No disrespect to the way the Dogs went about it."
North Melbourne admitted it was disappointed with Greenwood's decision.
“We were hopeful that Levi would re-sign and stay at North Melbourne and it is disappointing to lose a player of his calibre,” North’s director of football Geoff Walsh said.
“The commerciality of AFL today is very real and an environment that both clubs and players alike are a part of. In this particular case, Levi has been presented with a superior offer from another club and we fully understand how the system works.
“The significant piece of work that remains is for Levi’s nominated club to be able to provide compensation that is able to satisfy us.”
Greenwood will help bolster a Collingwood midfield that looks set to lose Dayne Beams to the Brisbane Lions this trade period, while his looming departure sours the positive start North made to the player exchange period last Friday with free agency acquisitions Jarrad Waite and Shaun Higgins.
Collingwood has until 2pm next Thursday (October 16) to broker a trade with North.
Collingwood director of football Rodney Eade confirmed Greenwood was a wanted man at the Westpac Centre.
"We're certainly keen to get our hands on him," Eade said on Tuesday afternoon.
"We're one of three or four clubs to have spoken to him.
"He was very impressive when we spoke to him and fingers crossed he commits to us."
Greenwood rejuvenated his career this season after falling out of favour in 2012 and 2013, when he played just 11 games.
After earning a senior call-up as North's substitute in round two this season, Greenwood quickly re-established himself as a key member of the Roos' midfield.
In 22 games this year, Greenwood averaged 25 possessions and was one of the Roos' best inside ball-winners at stoppages.
He was also among North's best players in the finals, particularly in the elimination final win against Essendon when he had 32 possessions and kicked a goal.
North coach Brad Scott told ABC Radio on Saturday that the club regarded Greenwood as a "critical signing" and was hopeful the 25-year-old would accept the Roos' latest offer.
"[Our] offer probably has changed a little bit because he's come off a pretty lean two-year period before this year," Scott said.
"Contract negotiations through the club started early this year and clearly his form has warranted an increase in both financial terms and contract length.
"We think we've got a really good offer in front of him at the moment and we're really hopeful he'll accept that."
Greenwood has played 74 games since being taken as North's second selection in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft, at pick No. 32 overall.
