MELBOURNE has delisted injury-plagued midfielder Michael Evans, even though he has one year remaining on his contract.
The club said in a statement that Evans would take some time to consider his future.
If he decides to continue his AFL career, the Demons would consider re-drafting him as a rookie.
AFL.com.au understands Melbourne has been in ongoing discussions with Evans in recent weeks about potentially delisting him and then re-drafting him as a nominated rookie as it looked to free up a third pick in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft.
However 22-year-old Evans is believed to have been less keen to take that option than the club hoped and they met on Thursday to discuss the issue ahead of the second list lodgement deadline.
He was subsequently delisted on Thursday and the option of him nominating for the draft or being re-rookied by Melbourne remains open as does the potential of Evans retiring.
If he does not continue his AFL career that has seen him play 16 games since his debut in 2011 then Melbourne would be expected to pay out the final year of his contract.
Evans was elevated from the club's rookie list at the end of 2012 and showed pace and promise before injury intervened.
The practice of delisting players and placing them on the rookie list is quite common.
Melbourne did it with Neville Jetta at the end of last season even though he had one year remaining on his contract and the 24-year-old had his best season of football in 2014, playing 16 games. He earned a two-year contract this season.
Gold Coast delisted Greg Broughton at the end of this season despite him finishing 10th in the club best and fairest to allow it an extra selection in this year's AFL draft and intend to place him on the rookie list for 2015.
Richmond will do the same thing with Matt Arnot, St Kilda with Adam Schneider and North Melbourne with Cameron Delaney.
