Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs are set to become the latest teams to use a rostering loophole, with both clubs combining to delist Jake Melksham, Taylor Duryea and Lachlan McNeil on Tuesday.
However, each member of the aforementioned trifecta will earn lifelines at their respective clubs, with the Demons and Dogs expressing that Melksham, Duryea and McNeil would be re-rookied at November's rookie draft.
Melksham, 32, has spent seven seasons as a Demon after trading Tullamarine for life in red and blue at the cessation of 2015.
While the forward has spent the entirety of this span on Melbourne's senior list, the former Don will call the rookie list home from next month as he rehabilitates from an ACL injury sustained during the final round of the recent home and away season.
Over at the Whitten Oval, both Duryea and McNeil received similar news, with the dual premiership Hawk and former rookie sent into contractual limbo until the commencement of next month's secondary selection period.
The twinned calls come after Duryea and McNeil combined to feature for Luke Beveridge's senior side on 33 occasions throughout the 2023 season.
The 2023 AFL Rookie Draft will take place on November 22, directly after the two-night National Draft that will be held at Marvel Stadium on November 20-21.
