North Melbourne ruckman Hamish McIntosh is “shocked” and “confused” after coach Dean Laidley offered him as a possible trade to other clubs yesterday.
Only three months ago McIntosh signed a new three-year contract extension, apparently keeping him at the club until 2011.
But Laidley yesterday offered McIntosh as a trade option yesterday, saying the club would consider letting him go if a rival was interested.
“We are open-minded about what would be best for the footy club. There were lots of names mentioned. Hamish McIntosh’s name was mentioned today,” Laidley told reporters yesterday.
“Even with Hamish, if there is real interest in him and a club loves Hamish, we will have a look.
“Until we have a look and get an offer somewhere, you can’t really speculate.”
The trade talk was news to McIntosh, with the 24-year-old’s manager Tom Petroro calling the words “a complete shock”.
“It is extremely confusing. It’s come as a complete shock to me and it’s fair to say we are extremely disappointed,” Petroro said.
McIntosh was injured for much of the season, but Petroro said he had shown great commitment to the Kangaroos by signing on past 2010, when the new Gold Coast franchise is expected to offer big deals to off-contract players.
“I have had no discussions with the club and I won’t be entertaining them, anyway,” Petroro said.
“He has a three-year deal. It is amazing when you take into account his considerable commitment to the Kangaroos post 2010, which 90 per cent of the players wouldn’t because of the changing landscape. The Kangaroos have got a bit to answer for.”
