NORTH Melbourne has given a lifeline to versatile defender Josh Walker, signing him as a delisted free agent.
It means Walker becomes a three-club player after previous stints at Brisbane and Geelong.
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"I definitely thought I'd get another crack at it somewhere," he said.
"I definitely feel like I still have a lot to offer so I suppose you've got to be optimistic. I always was hopeful that something would work out and was lucky enough; North were great about it and couldn't be happier with how it's worked out."
The signing came just minutes before the NAB AFL Pre-Season and Rookie Drafts on Friday morning.
Walker, who turns 27 in November, was delisted by the Lions in October.
He lined up in 11 games this year to take his career total to 85, after initially being drafted by the Cats in 2013.
Walker spent time up forward at the Cats but showed his best form down back.
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The retirement of Scott Thompson meant the Roos had room to bolster their tall defensive stocks.
"I spent a lot of time down forward early in my career and pretty much just last year was the first sort of full year down back and it sort of worked … So I think that's the aim going forward, I'll start training with the defenders and hopefully slot in nicely there," Walker said.
Majak Daw is expected to feature for the senior side in 2020 after missing all of 2019 with broken hips and a broken pelvis.
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North selected ruck/forward Charlie Comben, small forward Jack Mahony and half-back Flynn Perez in the NAB AFL Draft.
