After being a part of draft history, Liam Stocker's time at the Blues has come to an end after the club announced that he would not be offered a new contract for next season on Monday.
Coming into the 2018 draft as the Morrish medallist of that year, Stocker became part of a National Draft first with the introduction of live pick swapping amongst clubs.
Ranked as one of the top talents of the draft class by Carlton, the club famously swapped their future first-round pick for Pick 19 and Adelaide's future first-round selection in order to jump in and secure Stocker - effectively becoming Pick 4 for Stocker and Pick 9.
Regarded as an elite kick on both feet and a contested bull at under 18 level, the swap received mass attention and showed the Blues' willingness to secure Stocker ahead of other clubs.
Unfortunately, injuries hampered Stocker's time at IKON Park, playing just 28 games across four seasons and the 22-year-old will now be on the lookout for a new home to reignite his career.
Earlier this year, Stocker also bravely opened up on his battle with anxiety and the effects it has had on his career so far.
Despite his struggle for consistent game time, his delisting came as a shock to many, with fans and pundits torn on the decision given the large investment made at the National Draft.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
While he came through as a midfielder, Stocker plied his trade as a defender at Carlton given their stack of talent in the midfield and could look for an opportunity in the middle elsewhere.
Nonetheless, we've come up with five teams that could use a Stocker-like player in 2023 and give the 22-year-old a new home to flourish at.
3. North Melbourne
In a similar ilk to Hawthorn, North Melbourne could be a side that would suit Stocker and his demographic.
With coaching great Alastair Clarkson now at the helm for the Kangaroos, Stocker would be placed in an exciting, young environment where he could become a useful inside midfielder.
Clarkson, who coached Mitchell at the Hawks, knows what is needed for a winning culture and how to get the best out of his players - something that would be hugely beneficial for Stocker.
Clarkson isn't the only thing that could assist Stocker, but also working alongside emerging stars Luke Davies-Uniacke and Jy Simpkin and the underrated Ben Cunnington.
North are on the hunt for ready-made talents to add to their stocks, and, while they've largely been linked to older players around the league, they would also be looking at adding more high-quality youngsters.
