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Sport Nation
Why Cornes and Hodge think Davies-Uniacke has been overpaid
Nicholas Quinlan • April 12th, 2025 4:59 pm
Luke Hodge and Kane Cornes are in agreement that North Melbourne have spent too much on trying to secure the signature of Luke Davies-Uniacke.
Davies-Uniacke has signed a seven-year contract to stay at Arden Street which is a vote of confidence in what Alistair Clarkson is looking to build at the club.
This is believed to see him earn $1.3 million per season.
The 4th pick in the 2017 draft has been a crucial player for North Melbourne having won their best and fairest medal last season.
However, Cornes believes that Davies-Uniacke has reached the height of what he can do at the AFL level and that his contract it is an overpay for what he produces.
“He’s reached his potential,” Cornes stated.
“For what he is now, he’s what he’s going to be.
“Once you’ve reached that, he’s not going to take another level to go.
“This is Dustin Martin money for a player who has nowhere near reached Dustin Martin levels.”
Hodge feels that this move may also hinder their ability to retain their own players due to benchmark that Davies-Uniacke’s contract sets.
“He’s set the standard,” Hodge said.
“If he’s getting that much, what’s the next guy who’s going to be better than him going to get?
“As far as a leader, loved the fact that he stayed around but it's for too much money.
“He should have taken a clip in the cap to help set the standard and hopefully North Melbourne will fast-track by bringing someone else in with the money that he could have saved.”
However, Gerard Whateley would question Hodge’s line of thinking as he wonders who they would bring in given where they sit on the ladder.
“Who else are they paying in the next three years?” Whateley asked.
“Like they come in on minimum three-year contracts which can’t be negotiated.
“They’re not in the high acquisition phase just yet. I understand what you’re saying but this money is there.
“They’re not losing anyone who was getting paid at the moment and I would imagine that this is heavily front-ended.”
Davies-Uniacke did have interest from other clubs seeking his signature to stray from North Melbourne.
The most notable was from St Kilda who was reportedly willing to spend $1.5 million per year on Davies-Uniacke.
Davies-Uniacke has been solid this season although not quite at his best.
He is currently averaging 21.8 disposals at a 79.3% disposal efficiency which he will look to improve on throughout the season.
