Essendon would like to thank rookie Tom Wallis for his service to the Club since joining at the end of 2015.

Wallis was today informed his contract would not be extended next season.

General Manager – Football, Rob Kerr, thanked the 19-year-old for his commitment over the past year.

“We have faced challenging decisions with our list management and competition for spots is very tough,” Kerr said.

“Tom is a great young player who we invested time in his development via our ‘James Hird Academy’ and saw him make an impact throughout the 2016 VFL season.

“We hope he continues to develop his game as he works towards reaching his football potential.

“On behalf of everyone at the Club we wish Tom all the very best for his future.”

Wallis was a father-son selection – son of dual-premiership player Dean Wallis – at No.54 in the 2015 AFL National Rookie Draft from the Calder Cannons and made his VFL debut with Essendon in Round 16, 2015 against Footscray.