A total of 11 North Melbourne players have been delisted in a brutal list cull.
It comes after the club's disappointing season came to a close with a loss to West Coast on Thursday night as Rhyce Shaw's side slipped to 3-14 to sit 17th on the ladder.
Jamie Macmillan, Majak Daw, Jasper Pittard, Ben Jacobs, Paul Ahern, Mason Wood, Sam Durdin, Marley Williams, Joel Crocker, Lachie Hosie and Tom Murphy have all been told they won't be offered new contracts for 2021.
Perhaps the most prolific of the group is leadership group member Macmillan, who played 167 games for the club after being drafted with Pick 37 in the 2009 AFL Draft.
“I want to thank the club for giving a skinny 18-year-old kid a shot at making it,” Macmillan told the club website.
“It’s been an unbelievable ride over 11 years and this club holds a special place in my heart.
“While I’m disappointed it has come to an end at North, I understand the decisions are in the best interests of the club, and wish everyone involved nothing but success.”
Daw departs after 54 AFL games, having been picked up by the Kangaroos with Pick 9 in the 2010 Rookie Draft.
He became the first Sudanese-born player to play in the AFL when he made his debut in Round 4, 2013.
Daw completed a remarkable return to senior footy this year after recovering from serious severe hip and pelvis injuries.
“It’s obviously pretty disappointing that I’m not going to be around going forward,” Daw told teammates and staff this morning.
“It’s [my career] had its highs and lows along the way. I played one final, and I think I played 54 games in 11 years, so it’s quite a humble career, but I’d just like to thank this footy club for giving me an opportunity to be the first African to play in the AFL. It’s something I will always hold close to my heart.
“I’ve made some really good mates at this place. I’ll miss the locker room banter … it just didn’t work out the way I wanted it to this year, there’s been challenges I’ve gone through.
“The last few years obviously haven’t been easy for me, and I can’t thank this footy club enough for what they’ve done for me.”
Pittard was also a member of the club's leadership group, who crossed from Port Adelaide to North Melbourne at the end of the 2018.
The defender departs the Roos with 159 AFL games to his name.
“Jasper has been a talented defender highlighted by his All-Australian squad selection in 2016,” Shaw said.
Pittard was traded to North, despite being contracted to Port and crossed to Arden St with a point to prove.
“He worked really hard to turn his career around when he arrived, and managed to play every game for us in 2019 which was a great effort and real credit to his resilience and determination,” Shaw said.
“He was a valuable addition to the leadership group this season.”
