Melbourne delists Lucas Cook
MELBOURNE has delisted Lucas Cook without the former North Ballarat Rebel playing an AFL game.
He is one of eight players cut by the Demons today.
Cook was rumoured more than a month ago to be facing the axe, but nothing was confirmed until this announcement.
He joins Matthew Bate, Ricky Petterd, Jamie Bennell, Liam Jurrah and rookies Jai Sheahan, Leigh Williams and Kelvin Lawrence ousted by Melbourne.
Cook, 20, is originally from Hopetoun.
Melbourne used pick 12 in the 2010 national draft to recruit the key forward.
Cook is the latest player recruited from the Rebels and North Ballarat Roosters to be delisted this post-season.
They include:
Will Young (Adelaide) rookie
Orren Stephenson (Geelong)
Steve Clifton (Greater Western Sydney)
Andrew Hooper (Western Bulldogs)
As well, James McDonald (GWS) retired.
MEANWHILE, Cale Hooker’s desire to stay at Essendon is believed to have thwarted a trade to get Mitch Brown from West Coast Eagles to St Kilda.
Brown, drafted from the Rebels, expressed a desire to return to Victoria.
St Kilda was keen to get the key defender, but a trade could not be completed.
Brown’s manager Liam Pickering is reported on afl.com.au today saying that a deal was hatched which would have seen Hooker and Jamie Cripps to to the Eagles, Brown to St Kilda and two national draft picks go to Essendon.