Essendon continued the overhaul of its player stocks on an otherwise-quiet deadline for AFL clubs to finalise their lists.

The Bombers delisted 2000 premiership player and 2001 mark of the year Gary Moorcroft ahead of the November 24 draft.

Sydney also dumped ruckman Ricky Mott for not meeting off-season fitness requirements, among only six final changes to the lists of the 16 clubs.

Paul Salmon also officially retired from Essendon, Nick Daffy left Sydney and St Kilda let go James Begley and Caydn Beetham retired.

Moorcroft told Channel 10 he only wanted to continue his 96-game AFL career if he could stay in Melbourne.

"I wouldn't say I'm bitter or angry, just a bit disappointed I'm not going to see my mates that I've spent nine years with....that's the biggest disappointment," he said.

"Melbourne's my priority, I've got a four-year-old and a one-year-old, they've got the family around them at the moment and I think that's most important."

Moorcroft, a small forward, had kicked 15 goals in 13 matches this year.

He was most famous for his soaring mark last season over Western Bulldogs utility Brad Johnson, the best grab of the year.

Essendon also traded Blake Caracella, Chris Heffernan and Justin Blumfield last month in the trade period, while delisting Steve Alessio and Daniel McAlister.

From last year's grand final teams, Brisbane lost no players but Essendon was minus six.

Apart from Blumfield, Caracella, Heffernan, Moorcroft and Alessio, Damien Hardwick was traded last year to Port Adelaide.

Sydney took the harshest possible action against Mott, understood to have put on weight since the season ended.

"There's two or three different issues and it's probably best to keep them between the club and Ricky," said Sydney coach Paul Roos.

"He's a good kid, just in terms of probably some of the things we hoped for that he would have done in the off season, some of the other things off-field, but I won't get into specifics."

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