North Melbourne Make Big Play For Port Adelaide Star

(Image: Getty)

Port Adelaide defender Jasper Pittard has reportedly been offered a substantial deal from North Melbourne. 

Pittard has been offered a five-year deal worth $3 million by the Kangaroos. 

“There's a bit of talk around that North Melbourne have thrown a big offer towards restricted free agent Jasper Pittard, five-year deal for $3 million, so $600,000 a year," Mark Ricciuto said on Triple M's preview for the Port Adelaide/Hawthorn clash.

It has been speculated that Port Adelaide have limited salary cap space left and would struggle to match an offer of this size to keep Pittard if these reports are true.

"If that's true, and if Jasper thinks that a good offer and wants to go back to Melbourne and play for the Kangaroos, well Port Adelaide have the ability or the opportunity...to match it if they want," Ricciuto said.

"(It) would really push their (salary) cap, given that some say they have been a bit tight before that.

"But he is a very good player, he’s a hard running back flanker and that will test Port Adelaide if he wants to leave."

Ricciuto sees the value in the dashing defender and sees why a club like North Melbourne would be after his services. 

"It’s very, very important to have good hard running back flankers that can use the ball and break the lines," he said.

Pittard has played 105 games for Port Adelaide since being drafted in 2009 from Torquay in Victoria.