NORTH Melbourne chief of football Donald McDonald has guaranteed Hamish McIntosh will be a Kangaroo next season, categorically ruling out trading the ruckman.
Speaking on afl.com.au's Trade Week Radio, McDonald said McIntosh was contracted for the next two seasons and was a required player at North Melbourne.
The 203cm McIntosh struggled for senior action in 2011 with Todd Goldstein having a breakout season in the ruck that saw him earn selection in the 40-man All Australian squad.
With quality ruckmen at a premium, McIntosh's name has been thrown up as a potential trade option, but McDonald was adamant he was off limits.
"We've said it ad nauseam, Hamish isn't up for trade," McDonald said.
"He's a required player, we've contracted him until the end of 2013. We think that with Todd Goldstein and Hamish, they form a fantastic ruck duo and it enables Drewey (Petrie) to play forward. We also have a great young ruckman in Majak Daw.
"We're not interested in trading Hamish McIntosh … 100 per cent."
McDonald also quashed reports the Kangaroos were interested in chasing St Kilda's Jason Gram.
"I don't know where the Jason Gram story came from," he said.
"We didn't have any dialogue at all with St Kilda at our meeting yesterday in regards to Jason."
McDonald said a number of other players mentioned in trade circles, including Lachie Hansen, Ben Warren, Matt Campbell and Gavin Urquhart, all featured in North Melbourne's future plans.
He said Hansen was contracted for next season and the Kangaroos were currently trying to do likewise for Campbell.
"From our perspective, all these players are required players," he said.
"We heard third-hand that maybe Matty was getting pursued by Hawthorn. Matty has had a tough few years, [he] hasn't been able to get on the park consistently, but when he does, he's a damaging player.
"We're in the process of negotiating a contract with Matty's manager and that's where it's at."
In more good news for the club, Leigh Adams will be at Aegis Park for at least another three seasons after agreeing to a new deal.
Adams, 23, has signed until the end of 2014 after finishing fourth in the club's best and fairest.
Used mainly at half-forward but with stints through the midfield in 2011, he averaged 20 possessions a game and kicked 16 goals for the year.
"It is another show of faith by one of our future leaders with Leigh agreeing to a new contract," North chief of football McDonald told kangaroos.com.au.
Adams' impressive season comes off the back of a third-placed finish in the 2010 Syd Barker Medal.
"He is fast becoming one of our most consistent players. It is a credit to Leigh that he has overcome many injury setbacks to become the player he is today."
Selected in the rookie draft in 2006, Adams has played 44 games since his debut.
No trades are official until paperwork has been accepted by the AFL and formally recognised after 2pm on Monday, October 17.
Follow our complete coverage of the 2011 AFL exchange period from October 10-17. Join the AFL trade conversation on Twitter: use #tradeweek in your tweets.