Billy Hartung can consider himself “very unlucky” to have been delisted, according to GM football Cameron Joyce.

The 23-year-old running machine was told his time at Arden St was up on Tuesday, having spent just one season at the Kangaroos.

“Sometimes people fall into the boat of being uncontracted at potentially the wrong time,” Joyce said on SEN.

“There’s a lot of things that go into the decision, not just your normal form/injury piece but where your list is going, what potential positional needs you need and also too, the improvement of some players … Trent Dumont has had a fantastic year for us and finished off so strongly.”

Hartung crossed to North from Hawthorn and played every game until he injured his hamstring in Round 14.

“Everyone knows you’ve got to move three players off your list at the end of each year, obviously to create the room, but also with specific list changes you can only do that with players that are out of contract,” Joyce explained.

“He can consider himself unlucky.”

Asked about the potential of Port Adelaide wingman Jared Polec joining the club, Joyce said he hasn’t given any indications to date.

“We certainly haven’t been legitimately told by Jared or his manager that he wants to come and play with North Melbourne,” Joyce said.

“In terms of the trade period, we’re still five weeks away from that happening.

“That’s probably the same situation we’re in with other players at the moment, so we’re going to have to wait unfortunately.

“We’re not trying to put cold water on it by any means, but it’s never done until it’s done.”

Listen to Cameron Joyce's full interview on SEN here: