Jun 27th, 2019

Jun 27th, 2019

North Melbourne has landed a major coup by luring three-time Best and Fairest winner Brady Rawlings back to the club away from the West Coast Eagles.

Rawlings, who played 245 games for the Kangaroos, is currently the Eagles' list manager, but will vacate the position to take up the head of football job at North Melbourne.

The 38-year-old is currently contracted through the 2020 season with the Eagles, but the team is understood to be willing to allow Rawlings to start with the Kangaroos on November 1.

Rawlings' acquisition is a part of a major restructure of the Kangaroos' football operations, with the ex-midfielder to replace outgoing football boss Cameron Joyce in the position.

According to Fox Sports, while the split between Rawlings and the Eagles is "completely amicable", the departure has left Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett disappointed at the prospect of losing a respected figure of the club.

The Eagles have agreed to let Rawlings leave the club early but are disappointed to lose his services (Getty)

Rawlings is likely to play a major role in the hiring of the Kangaroos' next senior coach, rumoured to be current Swans coach John Longmire, an ex-Roos teammate of his.

The Kangaroos' brass recently made official contact with Longmire's camp via his manager Liam Pickering.

Longmire is under contract for another season with the Swans and is likely to be presented with an extension in the near future.

In joining the Kangaroos, Rawlings will be leaving another favourite son of North Melbourne in Eagles coach Adam Simpson.

Following the Kangaroos' parting of ways with senior coach Brad Scott earlier in the season, Simpson was briefly linked with the job before the rumour was quickly shut down.

Simpson's presence was a major reason why Rawlings joined the club at the end of 2013 as the midfield coach before ascending to the Eagles' list management team at the end of 2016.