Bailey Scott appears unfazed about his contract situation despite being unsigned with just five weeks left in North Melbourne’s AFL season.
The 24-year-old’s future has been a hot topic for Kangaroos fans in recent months and his performance in Sunday’s defeat to Carlton only increased their hope that he sticks around.
Scott had 25 disposals and a goal, moving the ball at will and putting plenty of pressure on the Blues without it.
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He told 7NEWS on Monday the loss was “disappointing” but to be challenging top-four sides “is the first step of learning”.
“But we don’t want to be stuck in that phase for too long,” Scott said.
Having played every game this season he is now just four appearances away from the 100-game milestone that his premiership-winning father Robert reached to set up Scott’s selection as a father-son product.
But whether he will stick around to surpass his dad’s 113-game tally and chase a flag has been unclear.
“My previous two contracts I’ve signed post-season so not abnormal to be in this situation,” Scott told 7NEWS.
“I’m comfortable with where I’m at. I’ll just do it at the end of the year, it allows me to focus on playing good footy.”
Scott said he will put his mind to “a couple of good challenges” over the next few weeks, with potential wins on offer against Richmond and West Coast.
North Melbourne last week re-signed Eddie Ford for 2025, while Brayden George recently locked himself in for the next two years and Charlie Comben put pen to paper for the next three.
Harry Sheezel, Jy Simpkin and Nick Larkey are all on long-term deals as well.
“There’s a fair few locked away for a few years there and a couple of important ones coming up with Cam Zurhaar and Luke Davies-Uniacke,” Scott noted.
“Both very important players for us.”
Zurhaar has long had an offer on the table to re-sign but continues to let the season play out before making a formal decision on staying or going.
Davies-Uniacke, under contract for 2025, has previously declared he wants to stick with North while also declaring he does not plan to extend early.