Michael Evans Biography

Michael Evans has decided to retire from football although he will be paid by the Demons for the final year of his contract in 2015.

Evans hadn't nominated for the NAB AFL Draft when nominations closed on Wednesday and has informed the club of his decision.

The contracted midfielder rejected the Demons attempt to remove him from the senior list at the end of the season and place him on the rookie list, a decision the club made in order to free up a third draft pick next Thursday.

Melbourne will honour the final year of Evans' contract and his payments will be included in the club's total player payments for 2015.

Melbourne delists injury-plagued midfielder Michael Evans, even though he has one year remaining on his contract.

The club said in a statement that Evans would take some time to consider his future.

If he decides to continue his AFL career, the Demons would consider re-drafting him as a rookie.

Melbourne has been in ongoing discussions with Evans in recent weeks about potentially delisting him and then re-drafting him as a nominated rookie as it looked to free up a third pick in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft.

However 22-year-old Evans is believed to have been less keen to take that option than the club hoped and they met on Thursday to discuss the issue ahead of the second list lodgement deadline.

Neville Jetta, Tom Gillies, Tom Couch, Troy Davis and Michael Evans have all inked new deals for 2013 with Melbourne.

Michael Evans makes his AFL debut for Melbourne at Docklands Stadium with 27 disposals (13 kicks and 14 handballs), 9 marks and 6 tackles in a 20-point loss to St Kilda.