Essendon have poured cold water on former star Andrew Lovett's plea to the club to throw him a lifeline in next month's pre-season draft.
After playing 88 games for the Bombers, Lovett was traded to St Kilda at the end of 2009 but didn't play a match for his new club who dumped him the following year after he had been charged with rape.
Having since been found not guilty of those charges stemming from an incident on Christmas Eve two years ago, 29-year-old Lovett is hoping for a last chance and told the Herald Sun he hoped Essendon might be keen to give it to him.
But while he said he'd be willing to 'play for peanuts' if he were to be given another opportunity, Bombers football operations manager Paul Hamilton said on Wednesday the club is headed in a different direction.
"We are in the process of building a list and we are committed to the strategies we are employing," Hamilton said.
"We are respectful of Andrew's contribution as a past player but unfortunately he doesn't fit our plans for the future."
"We wish Andrew the best with his future endeavours including his ambitions to gain another opportunity within the AFL system."
The AFL also confirmed on Wednesday that, pending final approval, Greater Western Sydney, the Western Bulldogs, Richmond, Gold Coast, Port Adelaide and Fremantle would be the clubs that participate in the pre-season draft on December 13.
Three players who may now be hoping to be picked up are David Gourdis (Richmond), Rex Liddy (Gold Coast) and Jayden Schofield (Western Bulldogs), who were all delisted on Wednesday.
In the case of Schofield, the Bulldogs released a statement in which they said the youngster had been 'facing some personal matters recently' and as a result , they 'determined that it is in Jayden's and the club's best interest for him to return permanently to his home state of Western Australia'.
While Schofield played seven games for the Dogs, Gourdis had managed four for the Tigers following his 2010 debut, including just one this year, and Liddy made four appearances for the Suns in his debut season.