Take a look at how former AFL players fared in the Adelaide Footy League this season
THEIR AFL careers are over but five former players proved they still had plenty to offer suburban football this year. We cast an eye over their statistics and check in to see how they fared.
THEIR AFL careers are over but these players have kicked on in suburban footy this year.
Former Port Adelaide teammates Brett Ebert and Daniel Motlop, ex-Carlton and Adelaide forward Troy Menzel, Alex Forster (ex-Fremantle) and Jesse O’Brien (ex-Brisbane) played in the Adelaide Footy League in 2018.
All five were new to the league this season.
We cast an eye over their statistics to find out how they fared.
Brett Ebert (Henley, division one)
The 2003 Magarey Medallist, who played 166 AFL games with Port, took to the field with Henley for its return to division one after the club spent 2017 in the second tier.
Although the Sharks failed to earn a finals berth, they did avoid relegation.
Six years after his AFL retirement, Ebert, 34, showed he still had finesse in front of goal.
He booted 33 majors in 17 games and was named in Henley’s best seven times.
Ebert’s best game was against Prince Alfred Old Collegians on April 21, in which he finished with five majors.
He is likely to line up again with Henley next year – as long as his body holds up.
“I had a really enjoyable year,” Ebert says.
“I had a pretty good pre-season and did a fair bit of running and ball-work, so that always helps.
“Being almost 35, it was just about looking after the body and making sure I got the recovery right. I wouldn’t mind having another run around next year.”
Alex Forster (Payneham Norwood Union, division one)
Prior to the final minor round match, the former Fremantle and Norwood player was arguably the most in-form forward in the competition.
The 25-year-old joined PNU after calling time on his career with Norwood in April because of injuries.
Across 12 minor-round games with the Falcons, Forster kicked 41 majors, including a nine-goal haul in their home clash with Athelstone on August 18.
He also lined up with the side in its preliminary final loss against reigning premier Rostrevor Old Collegians last Saturday.
“It’s a lot more relaxed and less training,” says Forster, who was with Fremantle from 2012-13, playing one AFL game.
“PNU is a really good club and I have lots of mates here, so I’ve really loved it actually.
“It’s a really competitive competition and I’ve been impressed with the level of football.”
Troy Menzel (Tea Tree Gully, division one)
Menzel was the most recent AFL retiree to join the league after the Crows delisted him at the end of last year.
The 23-year old, who Carlton snared with pick 11 before traded him Adelaide in 2015, helped lead Tea Tree Gully to a second-place finish with 50 goals in 18 matches.
The Gullies named Menzel in their best 11 times during the minor round and he will feature in the grand final against Rostrevor Old Collegians this Saturday.
Tea Tree Gully football director Marcello Buccini said Menzel, who was also coaching the under-18s this year, was a welcome addition.
“Coming from an AFL background, he’s been a positive addition to the club, both with the senior players and the under-18 players as well,” Buccini says.
“The addition of players like Troy, Brett Ebert and players like that adds that bit extra to the amateur league both on and off the field.
“It improves the standard of football and draws a lot more people to watch games.”
Jesse O’Brien (St Peter’s Old Collegians, division two)
The former Brisbane midfielder enjoyed an impressive campaign with St Peter’s Old Collegians – the club that went through the minor round undefeated.
O’Brien, who was on the Lions’ list from 2010-13, playing 17 AFL games, this week won division two’s best and fairest, the FA Bloch Medal.
SPOC named the 27-year-old in its best eight times from his 16 minor-round games.
O’Brien had been playing for Onkaparinga Valley in the Hills Footy League and in the SANFL with North Adelaide before joining SPOC this season.
“It’s been really good coming back to town and playing with SPOC, and I’ve been enjoying it on and off the field,” O’Brien says.
“It’s still a really good standard and we trained pretty hard in the off-season, so that put us in good stead.”
Picture: News Corp.
Daniel Motlop (Kenilworth, division five)
Motlop, who kicked 208 goals in 130 games for North Melbourne and Port from 2001-11, played eight matches for Kenilworth this year and helped lead the fifth-tier club to an elimination final.
Motlop finished the minor round with 22 majors.
The 36-year-old forward booted seven goals during Kenilworth’s match against Lockleys on June 2.
He missed a few training sessions during the week because of commitments with his indigenous food and game meat business, Something Wild.
But Kenilworth football director Michael Richter said Motlop’s influence at the club was huge and he was hopeful he would re-sign for next season.
“Daniel was terrific,” Richter said.
“One of the reasons why we were so keen to have him on board was for his on-field coaching.
“He was a really big influence on a lot of the younger players – apart from the fact that he’s a bloody good player, but also off-field, his ability to assist with mentoring was second to none.”
