Speculation is rising with regards to the future of Lachlan Hansen who will become a free agent at the end of next season.
The North Melbourne defender had a career best season in 2013 as he established himself as one of the best intercept marks in the league.
Lots of clubs will be aware of his position and are likely to be interested in signing Hansen during the free-agency pool. There could also be a fight on to secure the services of Ben Reid, James Frawley and Justin Westhoff during that draft ahead of the 2015 campaign.
Hansen was the number three pick in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft. That was when the Melbourne club were keen to invest in their youth. At that stage of his career, he was highlighted as a player who had a lot of promise, and fortunately for the Roos, he has gone on to reward them for their faith in him. He was their first choice back in 2006 in which the likes of Todd Goldstein, Lindsay Thomas, Scott Thomps and Robbie Tarrant all joined him later to the North.
Since his switch into defence, Hansen he has averaged 7.8 marks a game. That was fifth highest in the AFL last season among the players who had played at least once.
He started 2013 with a minor knee injury which kept him out of some of North Melbourne’s games in the early stages of the campaign. Betfair punters of the AFL club were keen to back them once again when he returned.
North Melborune open up their 2014 season against Essendon on March 21. They are favourites with Betfair to start with a win in the AFL betting for the first game of the campaign.