North Melbourne have delisted Will Phillips, a former No.3 draft pick who received the number of club legend Brent Harvey.
Phillips was one of three axings, along with Darcy Tucker and Geordie Payne, confirmed by the Kangaroos on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old played 50 games for North, but was unable to lock down a permanent spot in the midfield as the likes of Luke Davies-Uniacke and George Wardlaw developed.
Phillips was drafted in 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Kangaroos had high hopes for him.
They immediately presented him with No.29, the jumper worn by VFL/AFL games record holder Harvey.
"The impressive thing for us was that not only his teammates, but opposition players we interviewed this year nominated Will as the most outstanding leader and competitive player that they've played with and against," former North Melbourne recruiting boss Mark Finnigan said after the club drafted him.
"Will's an outstanding leader."
Phillips is not the only draftee from 2020 to not become an established player at AFL level.
No.1 pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has struggled with significant off-field issues and was recently traded from the Western Bulldogs to Gold Coast.
Only Adelaide's No.2 pick, Riley Thilthorpe, appears to be on the right trajectory out of the top 10 draftees.
North's decision to axe Tucker comes as no surprise after the former Fremantle winger played 48 games in three seasons at the club.
Tucker, 28, finishes with 156 AFL games after making 108 appearances for the Dockers.
"These decisions are never easy, especially when they involve young men who have invested so much of themselves into the club," North football boss Todd Viney said.
"We wish Will, Darcy and Geordie every success in their future."
Entering Alastair Clarkson's fourth season as coach of North, the Kangaroos will be expected to jump up the ladder after six-straight years in the bottom three.
