North Melbourne veteran Jamie Macmillian is set to depart the club's Queensland hub as he awaits the birth of his first child.
Macmillian is prepared to stay in hub life until the latest possible stage but and then depart for Victoria.
According toย Fox Sports'ย Tom Morris, he will return home after next Sunday's clash against the Demons.
North Melbourne's Jamie Macmillan will leave the hub after Sunday's game against the Demons for the birth of his first child. @FOXFOOTY
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) August 3, 2020
Speaking to the North Melbourne website, Macmillian said he was looking forward to getting back home.
โI will be going home for the birth, whenever that is,โ Macmillan told North Media.
โIt looks like it will be sometime next week, so Iโm trying to get in as many games as I can.
โItโs a situation that weโre managing day-by-day.
โSheโs (wife Olivia) been awesome for me, encouraging me to stay as long as I can.โ
The couple initially expected the birth to fall after the regular season.
โWe found out in December, and like most footballers, we looked up the fixture to see where it lands, and at the time it fell in the pre-finals bye which was perfect,โ Macmillan said.
โNow it falls around Round 13.
โSo, it looks like after the Melbourne game (Iโll leave). Thatโs the plan for now.โ
Macmillan said he had appreciated the support of coach Rhyce Shaw under difficult circumstances.
โShawryโs had a number of conversations with me,โ he said.
โHeโs spoken about his experiences with his kids, and said that itโs not something you want to miss.
โHe and the club have been nothing but supportive in helping me navigate my way through this.
โI love playing footy and I love this footy club, and weโre going through a trying time at the moment.
โTo feel like youโre sort of deserting the guys is a challenge.โ
But the 28-year-old knows this decision is much bigger than football.
โAt the end of the day itโs my first kid and I want to be there,โ Macmillan explained.
โEveryone says itโs one of the best moments of your life, and I donโt want to miss that.โ
Macmillian joins Gary Ablett Jnr, Carlton's Liam Stocker and St Kilda's Nathan Brown in leaving their hubs.
The 165-gamer is out of contract at season's end.
