North Melbourne have axed 11 players, including Majak Daw, as the Kangaroos go about reinvigorating their AFL list after a horror season.
The club has wasted no time putting a difficult campaign behind them, which could still result in the wooden spoon, by delisting a stack of popular clubmen.
Daw, whose AFL comeback after a life-threatening fall was one of the more inspiring of the season, is joined on the outer by Jasper Pittard and Jamie Macmillan.
The experienced duo were in North’s leadership group this year, with Macmillian playing 167 games for the Kangaroos after being drafted in 2009.
Macmillan played in seven finals games and was awarded life membership last year.
Pittard joined the Kangaroos in 2019 after playing 126 games for Port Adelaide.
But it is Daw’s delisting that will hit most North supporters the hardest with the defender’s rollercoaster 11-season stint at Arden St ending after 54 games.
“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,” Daw said.
“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.”
Daw became the first Sudanese-born player to debut in the AFL after bursting onto the scene in 2013, almost four years after he was first drafted.
North Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw labelled Daw’s effort to recover from significant hip and pelvic injuries suffered in a fall from the Bolte Bridge in 2018 as “superhuman”.
“How Majak was able to physically recover and mentally get himself back to playing elite level football will be the stuff of legend in the years to come. It’s one of the more remarkable things I’ve seen in my time,” Shaw said.
“What he’s done for young African people and his community, combined with what he’s done for those suffering mental health has been extraordinary.”
Ben Jacobs, Paul Ahern, Mason Wood, Sam Durdin, Marley Williams, Joel Crocker, Lachie Hosie and Tom Murphy are the other North players to not receive another contract.
Shaw spoke about the looming cuts after the Kangaroos’ season ended with a 15-point loss to finals-bound West Coast on Thursday night.
“It’s just part of the evolution of the club and where it’s going and where it needs to go,” he told reporters.
“It’s going to be a hard time for a lot of people, but it’s also going to be an exciting time for the club going forward.”
Footy Guy
Guest
Have a big trade period get 4-7 players from other clubs
Aaron Paul
Roar Rookie
tassie kangaroos?
Aaron Paul
Roar Rookie
who are they going to replace them with? there are only so many draft picks, even if you finish 2nd to bottom
RooBoy18
Roar Rookie
I agree that to let go of Brown would be a big mistake. Tall target forwards that regularly kick bags of 5-plus don't grow on trees.
Footy Guy
Guest
All of them I can absolutely understand why north got rid of them, list balance, they got too many of these sorts of players but I feel like a few could fit in well to other clubs Paul Ahern I can see being picked up someone like Hawthorn Hawks or Adelaide Crows he would complement and fit in with the midfield. Majak Daw someone like Melbourne Demons, Essendon Bombers, Fremantle Dockers and Gold Coast Suns Mason Wood Someone like Fremantle Dockers will want to get him, Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn could make a play for him I'm a little surprised by getting rid of hosie Sam Durdin- didn't develop quickly enough but would be a good back up key defender for someone like collingwood, port Adelaide, gws I'm surprised they didn't get rid of Garner and Turner, Garner was pick 15, 2012 draft a 8 years ago, surely he's had enough chances to prove himself at afl level
Nico
Roar Rookie
Wow. Cameron to Cats? Scary good move.
ScottD
Roar Guru
The problem is that with the reduction in list size, currency isn’t what it used to be. There will be a lot of players that might have something left in the tank or be considered good currency in previous years that will be left by the wayside this year. That’s what happens when you reduce the list size across the league.
Marty
Guest
As a Roos man there are no surprises in the 11names. None of them are best 22 and most have been given plenty of chances.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Noooooooooooooo.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Daw and Pittard were played out of position. North might have actually of had a chance of winning some late games with them in defence. It was both a prank and a tank it seems. Less than enthused by Shaw's "exciting time for the club going forward". This has none of the optimism of Barrassi and the 10 year rule or Den's U19 coaching manual of the 90s. Shopping Brown is the greatest madness. A pick 47 no less. They've got incredible value out of him. Should have just given him the cash, they still have plenty to spare.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
or they might win big. eg mark thompson
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Lol yes. Not sure if that would be better or worse.
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
ryce shaw has got no idea how to coach,he will rip the fabric of the kangeroos apart.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Gone from your team to your wife’s Pope? Is that right?
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
At least he'll still be wearing vertical stripes Pete when you get him
Kane
Roar Rookie
Bit surprised with the Ahern and Wood delisting as they may have had a little bit of currency. Not knowing what picks they have carrying over from trades last year they are going to have a lot of late picks in the draft. Looks to me like they are going to trade a big name like Brown to try to get some high picks, won't get much for him though on this year's form. Risky manoeuvre
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
And Ben Brown?
2dogs
Roar Rookie
I’m hopeful you have shares in Kleenex tissues for your issues
nics
Roar Rookie
Need someone to join Hawkins on the island?
Mark
Roar Rookie
If North paid half his contract, I'd have him at Richmond. I'm sure Lynch would enjoy his delivery of the ball.