MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 26: Josh Hill of the Eagles and Debutante, Mitchell Hibberd of the Kangaroos compete for the ball during the 2017 AFL round 01 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the West Coast Eagles at Etihad Stadium on March 26, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Mitch Hibberd, 21, will be delisted by North Melbourne, according to Nick Bowen of AFL.com.au.

The young defender, taken with pick 33 in the 2015 National Draft, had an injury interrupted first two seasons with North Melbourne, but showed promise as a 192cm rebounding player.

Drafted as a versatile defender who could shift into the midfield, Hibberd drew comparisons to fellow Tasmanian Jackson Thurlow, for his combination of agility, size and line-breaking ability.

After overcoming these injury setbacks, Hibberd broke into the team for four games during 2017.

However, despite a consistent period of form over 16 games in the VFL, Hibberd was not selected for an AFL game this year.

Hibberd is reportedly keen to play on and will explore options at other clubs.

He will become the seventh player delisted, after North Melbourne parted ways with Billy Hartung, Tom Jeffries, Oscar Junker, Gordon Narrier, Daniel Nielson and Josh William last week.

Further speculation continues over Braydon Preuss' future at the club, as well as the group of unsigned players such as Ben Jacobs, Jed Anderson, Scott Thompson and Sam Wright.