MELBOURNE will have seven selections at the NAB AFL Draft later this month after the club delisted defender Nathan Carroll on Friday.

There had been intense scrutiny as to whether Carroll would keep his place on the Demons’ list in recent months after a series of off-field misdemeanours during the past two years.

The most recent incident occurred during the players’ Mad Monday celebrations, in which it is believed Carroll and a teammate became embroiled in a physical altercation.

The 28-year-old was contracted for the 2009 season, however, the Demons have struck a settlement agreement with Carroll.

A statement released by the Demons on Friday said that Carroll’s 2009 salary would be included in Melbourne’s 2008 Total Player Payments (TPP).

“The Melbourne Football Club thanks Nathan for his contribution over seven years, and wishes him all the best in his future endeavours,” the statement said.

Carroll has not re-joined Melbourne in its pre-season training since the Demons returned from their off-season break.

While he was not expected back in early sessions, he was not sighted when the remainder of the squad returned. Instead it is believed he has been training privately, often working out with Melbourne’s boxing coach Rod Ryan.

The question now is whether any rival AFL club will take a punt on the West Australian, who has played 71 career matches since first joining Melbourne as a rookie in 2002.

Carroll was initially recruited from Claremont, and came to the Dees via the rookie draft.

He was elevated to the senior list in 2003, and made his AFL debut in round four that year against Geelong.

He finished sixth in the club’s best and fairest in 2006 and was also awarded the Ron Barassi Jnr Trophy for the most improved player in the same year.

Carroll’s delisting means Melbourne will have one more crack at next month’s talent-packed national draft, including the highly-prized picks one, 17 and 19.