North Melbourne recruit Blake Thredgold will be placed on the inactive list as the young defender continues his rehabilitation from a long-term foot injury.
The 18-year-old has been sidelined since undergoing pre-season surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury suffered in February.
The move opens a list spot for North Melbourne ahead of Tuesday’s AFL Mid-Season Draft.
General manager of football Todd Viney emphasised that the club's priority remains supporting Thredgold through his recovery.
"Blake has been a highly valued member of our club since arriving late last year, and our main focus is having him complete his rehab seamlessly," Viney said.
"We see Blake as an important part of our future, and he’s put in a heap of work behind the scenes already, and by placing him on the inactive list, we can take any immediate pressure off his timelines.
"Having a pick gives us flexibility in next week's draft, but we’ll continue our discussions over the coming days to determine whether using the selection is the right move for our list at this current time."
