North Melbourne has made a further four changes to its list, confirming Shaun Atley, Trent Dumont, Tom Campbell and Charlie Ham would not be offered contracts for 2022.
Sitting 21st on the club’s all-time games played list, Atley represented the Roos 234 times, including eight finals and 20 appearances in 2021.
A hard-running defender with the ability to play in multiple positions, Atley missed just 11 games across his 11 seasons, after making his debut in Round 1 of 2011. He is one of only 33 players to reach the 200-game milestone with North Melbourne.
“You couldn’t get a more committed and popular club man than Shaun,” North Melbourne GM of Football Brady Rawlings said.
“He would always put team success above his own ambitions, even though he’s been a great player for us in his own right.
“Although he played his best footy as a defender, we’ve used Shaun all over the park across his career.”
Drafted with pick 30 at the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, Dumont had to bide his time at VFL level, before becoming a regular best 22 player in the back half of the 2017 season.
He had his best year in 2019, averaging over 23 disposals a game, including an equal career-high 38 touches in Round 7.
Dumont played 113 games across seven seasons and lined up for his 100th game in a memorable victory against Hawthorn in Round 9 this year.
“Like ‘Ats’, ‘Froggy’ (Dumont) has been a North Melbourne person through and through and he’s developed into a really dependable contributor across his 100-plus games,” Rawlings said.
“It’s just unfortunate for ‘Frog’ that he suffered a couple of calf injuries at the start of this year. It’s a credit to him that he was able to get back into the team after a long layoff and add his leadership to a pretty young group.”
After three seasons at North, Campbell departs with 54 career games to his name.
An outstanding influence not just on the field, but also with his leadership and experience off-field, the 29-year-old has been a key member of the North squad since 2019.
He won the club’s VFL best and fairest, the John Law Medal, in 2019 and played 12 senior games at North, following 42 across six seasons at the Western Bulldogs.
Mid-season draft selection Charlie Ham has also been farewelled, having played four matches for the Roos’ VFL team.
The recent delistings add to the departures of Taylor Garner, Dom Tyson, Will Walker and Connor Menadue, as well as Robbie Tarrant in a trade, which saw the club acquire Callum Coleman-Jones from Richmond.
“It’s always a tough day to let players go but we wish them well as they look to gain AFL opportunities elsewhere.”
The Roos will now take selections 1, 20, 42, 47, 72 and 77 into November’s 2021 NAB AFL Draft.
