Overview
- Joyce’s manager Liam Pickering confirmed on radio that Joyce will join North Melbourne and that the delisted-free-agent paperwork is expected to be completed this week.
- The 29/30-year-old defender arrived in the AFL from Ireland as a category B rookie, played 13 games for St Kilda and 14 games across four seasons at Brisbane before being delisted.
- Brisbane frequently listed Joyce as an emergency and gave him limited senior chances, but reports say he has shown he can perform when selected.
- North Melbourne has pursued defensive reinforcements during the trade period, missed on Adelaide’s Nick Murray, and recently added Nick Blakey while planning further delisted signings such as Elijah Tsatas and Samson Ryan.
- The signing offers Joyce a clear pathway to more senior games and gives North an inexpensive option to help shore up a depleted backline, with selection competition and form determining how quickly he plays.