North Melbourne has decided to delist first-year defender Toby Pink with the intention to re-list the 26-year-old via next month's Rookie Draft.

The manoeuvre will give the Kangaroos flexibility ahead of the National Draft, opening up a vacancy on the club's primary list so that they can use further selections at the main intake.

The Roos currently hold selections 2 and 62 for the AFL Draft, which will take place over November 20-21. The Rookie Draft will follow on the 22nd.

โ€œThis will give us the flexibility to bring in more young talent through the upcoming national draft,โ€ Roos list manager Brady Rawlings said.

โ€œToby has worked hard to earn a second chance in the AFL, and we are committed to re-drafting him as a rookie.

โ€œWe thank Toby for selflessly agreeing to this move to assist the club with our list strategy.โ€

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 17: Toby Pink of the Kangaroos maks during a North Melbourne Kangaroos AFL training session at Arden Street Ground on November 17, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Pink joined the Kangaroos last off-season as a delisted free agent after a strong year with SANFL club Glenelg. He previously spent three years on Sydney's list and would not manage an AFL debut.

The mature-aged recruit managed to have an impact at senior level under Alastair Clarkson this year, playing 15 games as a forward-defender hybrid.

Pink earned an extension for the 2025 season after reaching a games trigger.