North Melbourne confirm further list call

The veteran midfielder is set to gain a re-selection.

EDITOR | October 29, 2021 - 10:40am

North Melbourne have confirmed that midfielder Jared Polec has been delisted, with the club set to re-list the 29-year-old through next month's Rookie Draft.

The Kangaroos confirmed the decision on Friday ahead of the AFL's next list lodgement deadline, with North Melbourne stating the call comes as one to help the club's "flexibility with list spots".

Injuries and form have kept Polec's games tally limited with the Kangaroos, as the club undergoes a substantial list rebuild.

Speaking on the decision to delist and eventually hand Polec a reprieve, Kangaroos football boss Brady Rawlings stated it was a decision to aid the club's list management.

“All our picks from 42 onwards will come in significantly as other clubs use earlier selections to bid on father-son and Next Generation Academy players,” Rawlings said in a club statement.

“We’ve obviously got a couple of premium selections at the top end of the draft, but having more picks after that provides a great opportunity to bring in some talented players who lacked exposure over the past two COVID-affected seasons.

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“Once we get past the national draft, we’ll call Jared’s name out in the rookie draft.

“Jared’s cooperation with this list option has been appreciated and will not affect his opportunities at AFL level in any way.”

Polec ventured to Arden Street from Port Adelaide at the end of the 2018 season, playing 40 games in the blue and white stripes across his three seasons with the club.

The South Australian was originally drafted to Brisbane in 2010, playing 16 games with the Lions before moving to his home state and joining the Power in 2013.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 15: Jared Polec of the Power passes the ball during the round 17 AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Port Adelaide Power at Optus Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Polec played just the five games for the Kangaroos in 2021, featuring in the opening three rounds of the season before making a return for a two-game span from Round 19.

The Kangaroos have already confirmed the departures of Shaun Atley, Tom Campbell, Trent Dumont, Taylor Garner, Charlie Ham, Connor Menadue, Dom Tyson and Will Walker this off-season.

North Melbourne currently hold Picks 1, 20, 42, 47, 72 and 77 for the 2021 National Draft.