NORTH Melbourne has bolstered its forward line with the addition of West Coast's Ben McKinley.
McKinley kicked 89 goals from 46 games for the Eagles but asked for a trade to his native Melbourne after appearing in just 10 this season.
He was the club's leading goalkicker in a disappointing 2008 campaign, which included his career-best haul of seven goals against Essendon, whom he supported as a youngster.
In return, West Coast has received North's fifth-round selection (No.86 overall) in next month's NAB AFL Draft.
Senior coach Brad Scott said McKinley, a second-round draftee in 2005, was an exciting prospect who could be given other opportunities despite his experience as a forward.
Scott also said that McKinley had the character the club sought in its recruits. The 23-year-old is in the final year of a law degree.
"He's about 185 centimetres and ... we actually think he can push into the midfield a little bit more," Scott told afl.com.au's Trade Week Radio.
"He's extremely good one-on-one and he's got really clean hands.
"He's a proven goalkicker but we think he can play a variety of roles for us."
Scott dismissed suggestions that defender Gavin Urquhart, who has two years to run on his existing contract, had asked to be traded.
The 22-year-old Queenslander has played 40 AFL games since his selection in the 2006 national draft, but injury and form limited him to eight this year.
Scott said Urquhart was a required player and that it was natural that other clubs would be interested in him.
"He would be a little disappointed with his senior output this year but I am confident that he is one player that we haven't seen the best of yet and I'm keen to get that out of him over the next few years," Scott said.
Earlier on Friday, North traded ruckman David Hale to Hawthorn in exchange for the Hawks' end-of-round-one compensation selection and pick 71.
The Hawks also received pick 52.
Scott said the club was likely to use the compensation pick in this year's draft, even though it could be held until 2014.
Its other selections are at 17 and 35.
"We think the draft has some real talent, particularly up to the mid-30s, so we think we can get three players who'll have long futures at North Melbourne," he said.
"We're not certain about anything yet but we're really happy with those picks."
Follow our complete coverage of the 2010 AFL exchange period from October 5-11. No trades are official until paperwork has been accepted by the AFL and formally recognised after 2pm on Monday, October 11.
Join the AFL trade conversation on Twitter: use #tradeweek in your tweets.
