Hard News

Carlton utility Zac Fisher has been traded to North Melbourne during day three of the AFL trade period.

The Kangaroos received Fisher and pick No.17 in this year’s draft from the Blues in exchange for picks 21 and 25.

The 27^th pick from the 2016 draft has played 107 games and kicked 53 goals since he made his debut in Round 4, 2017.

In what is an already dominant midfield, with the likes of the 2022 Brownlow Medallist Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh, and Adam Cerra, Fisher struggled with finding midfield time at the Blues and sought to find more opportunity elsewhere.

Speaking on SEN’s Trade Radio, Fisher made clear why the move was ultimately the right decision for his career.

"I am really excited about the opportunity North have given me and I can't wait to get stuck in,” Fisher said.

"I think when we were in discussions, the ability to play half back or go up forward, and ‘Clarko’ (North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson) seemed to really like my flexibility across the ground.

"I found out a couple of months before the end of the season, just after I first got dropped, they reached out. They said there would be a bit more opportunity for me."

Fisher has been luckless at times over the last couple of years at Carlton, having been thrown around the ground playing both forward and back, plus the occasional run in the midfield.

Harrison Reid, digital sport reporter at 7NEWS.com.au, said it is a good fit for both clubs.

“Earlier in his career he was tried as a forward and got squeezed out by Jack Martin and Matt Owies. Then they tried to send him to half back which didn’t suit for Carlton, getting squeezed out again,” Reid told RMIT.

“I think he provides them with some much-needed experience, as a talented player who can go either end, with some midfield time as well.”

The 25-year-old fits the optimal premiership demographic brilliantly according to the AFL’s official statistics partner Champion Data, which has found that the average age of grand final winners over the past two decades is 26.2, while the average games played is 126.7.

“North Melbourne have a lack of that 24 to 28 age group and Fisher, who’s played 100-plus games, fits that mould well,” Reid added.

The Blues now head into the 2023 AFL draft with picks 21, 25, 69 and 77 whilst the Kangaroos have two, three 15, 17, 56 and 64.

Source:

Harrison Reid digital sports reporter for 7NEWS.com.au, email: hreid@seven.com.au