Alex Morgan says the opportunity to grow with an up and coming young North outfit was what ultimately lured him to Arden Street.

The 21-year-old was picked up by the Roos as a delisted Free Agent on Wednesday morning and told NMFC.com.au that he knocked back a one-year deal to stay with the Bombers in order to explore more senior opportunities.

“It was an enjoyable two years [with Essendon], especially this year playing more football,” Morgan said.

“Playing VFL finals and the club making AFL finals was an exciting time, rebounding from 2016.

“But I felt like I needed a bit more of an opportunity.”

Morgan met with Brad Scott as he weighed up his future.

“Brad outlined where North was at as a club and I looked at where I was at as a player.

“It linked up a fair bit and I made the decision, after talking to a few people. I just felt it was the right decision for me.

“It’s a pretty young club so coming here was the right fit given where I was at with my football.

“You have to work for your opportunity but I feel like it’s a young team that can really grow together.”

Morgan knows he has to make a good first impression and earn the respect of his teammates before he can put his hand up for a long-awaited AFL debut.

“I think with North, that [opportunity] is what I’m going to get if I put in the work, so I’m excited by the prospect,” he said.

Selected with the 29th pick in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft from the Oakleigh Chargers, Morgan says he's over the hamstring issues which hampered him early in his career.

Morgan's pace and class appealed to North, according to List Manager Michael McMahon.

“We are confident that Alex will be a very good addition to our list,” McMahon said.

“He possesses elite AFL traits with his speed and ball use, and was highly regarded when he came through the draft.

“He has been somewhat restricted by injury during his time in the AFL system, but showed enough at VFL level in the back half of the year to suggest he has the capacity to play an important role for us next year.”