Brady Rawlings in action for North in 2011. Credit:Sebastian Costanzo

North Melbourne have secured West Coast list manager Brady Rawlings as the club's new head of football, but are unlikely to have the former Kangaroo officially working for the club until after the national draft in November.

Rawlings is understood to have already "left the building" at West Coast and finished up his duties, but the Eagles' wish to protect their intellectual property - Rawlings has been driving the club's list planning - means the expectation is that will be put on "gardening leave" until after the draft.

The hiring of Rawlings, who has been list manager at the Eagles in partnership with ex-teammate and senior coach Adam Simpson, means that the Kangaroos will have a new coach and football boss joining the club in unison.

The Eagles will not stand in the way of Rawlings joining his old club, given that he is being promoted - a standard policy for most clubs on staff - but they are understood to be of the view that their departing list manager should not start working with North Melbourne until the trading and drafting has been completed.