Pick No.35 in the national draft might appear an inflated trade price for a player yet to make his AFL debut.

But North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said there was too much interest from other clubs in Cameron Richardson to risk letting him go through to that draft.

Richardson was a pre-listed Gold Coast player and the Kangaroos finalised the deal with the Suns on Monday afternoon, shortly before the trade week deadline.

"We would have been more than happy to take him in the draft, but the reality is we didn't think we'd be able to get him in the draft," Scott said of Richardson.

"Other clubs would have taken him earlier.

"Almost every Melbourne club and some interstate clubs had interest in Cam, we were concerned if he went into the draft, we wouldn't get access to him.

"We're delighted at pick 35 we can get him in straight away and he'll come to Utah with us on October 29 and he'll be part of our group from day one."

Richardson is a half-back whom Scott calls a late developer, saying he was only playing local football in Ballarat this time last year.

He impressed this season at North Ballarat, the Kangaroos' VFL affiliate club.

"We had to work really hard to get that deal done and we're really pleased," Scott said.

"He's been in our backyard, playing at North Ballarat, and now he's on our list, we're delighted.

"We think he can an immediate impact."

The Kangaroos also picked up Ben McKinley from West Coast and Scott said the small forward had midfield potential.

Ruckman David Hale went to Hawthorn and as part of the deal, North will gain the compensation pick at the end of round one that the Hawks had received for losing Campbell Brown to Gold Coast.

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