The former AFL stars in local footy across Australia including Gary Ablett, Eddie Betts and Jack Redden

As one of footy’s biggest names prepares to debut for a local club tonight, we’ve listed every former AFL player who currently plays local footy across Australia. See the big names.

While local footy season is over in most of Australia, the Northern Territory Football League will play host to arguably the biggest name in the game’s history tonight.

Gary Ablett Jr will play for Palmerston in his NTFL debut, but he is not the only former AFL star to represent a local club, with hundreds of names competing in amateur footy across the country.

To mark ‘The Little Master’s big game, The Messenger has taken a look at each state and listed every former AFL player who currently dons a local club’s colours.

States have been listed from most players to least, with players named under their relevant competitions, along with their (AFL club, and local club).

Here is our list.

VICTORIA – 79 players

Victoria leading the way for player numbers comes as no surprise, with a strong former AFL contingent consistently gracing the state’s local competitions each year.

From household names to cult heroes, Victoria’s local footy scene has it all.

Former St Kilda and Port Adelaide star Paddy Ryder is one of the big figures at the local level, the damaging ruck/forward dominating for Devon Meadows in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League.

Former gun Carlton and North Melbourne forward Jarrod Waite has also been a star, impressing for Whittlesea in the Northern Football League and signing with Benalla in the Goulburn Valley FL, while Port Adelaide icon Robbie Gray has signed with Doncaster.

The Victorian Amateur Football Association plays host to the most former AFL players in Victoria, with names like Alex Fasolo, Scott Selwood and Ayce Cordy all included.

Former AFL star Paddy Ryder is now at Devon Meadows in the MPNFL. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Bellarine Football League

Aaron Black (North Melbourne and Geelong, Modewarre)

Sam Darley (GWS and Western Bulldogs, Geelong Amateur)

Eastern Football League

Cameron Cloke (Collingwood, Carlton and Port Adelaide, Templestowe)

Josh Deluca (Carlton, Doncaster East)

Kyle Martin (Collingwood, Noble Park)

Matt Arnot (Richmond, Vermont)

Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide, Doncaster)

Shaun McKernon (Adelaide and Essendon, Tullamarine)

Essendon District Football League

Jake Carlisle (Essendon and St Kilda, Craigieburn)

Lynden Dunn (Melbourne and Collingwood, West Coburg)

Paul Ahern (North Melbourne, Pascoe Vale)

Geelong Football League

Darcy Lang (Geelong and Carlton, Colac)

Gippsland League

Brett Eddy (Port Adelaide, Traralgon) 

Jack Leslie (Gold Coast, Sale)

Jed Lamb (Carlton, Warragul)

John Butcher (Port Adelaide, Maffra)

Logan Austin (Port Adelaide and St Kilda, Bairnsdale)

Nick Graham (Carlton, Warragul)

Goulburn Valley Football League

Andrew Walker (Carlton, Echuca)

Jack Hutchins (Gold Coast, Mansfield)

Jarrad Waite (Carlton, North Melbourne, Benalla Saints)

Michael Hartley (Essendon and Hawthorn, Seymour)

Sam J Reid (GWS, Echuca)

Shaun Atley (North Melbourne, Rochester)

Hampden Football League

Nathan Vardy (West Coast, North Warrnambool)

Kyabram District Football League

Josh Mellington (Fremantle and Richmond, Violet Town)

Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League

Brandon White (St Kilda, Devon Meadows)

Dean Kent (St Kilda, Devon Meadows)

Dylan Roberton (St Kilda, Frankston)

Paddy Ryder (Essendon, St Kilda and Port Adelaide, Devon Meadows)

Ryan Bastinac (North Melbourne, Pearcedale)

Shane Savage (Hawthorn and St Kilda, Pines)

Murray Football League

Brock McLean (Carlton, Tongala)

Kyle Dunkley (Melbourne, Barooga)

Northern Football League

Brayden Sier (Collingwood, Heidelberg)

Daniel Gorringe (Gold Coast, Greensborough)

David Zaharakis (Essendon, Bundoora)

Jordan Schroder (Geelong, Northcote Park)

Lin Jong (Western Bulldogs, Montmorency)

Majak Daw (North Melbourne, Heidelberg)

Mitch Honeychurch (Western Bulldogs, Montmorency)

Outer East Football League

Andrew Krakouer (Collingwood, Seville)

Ovens and Murray Football League

Ben Reid (Collingwood, Wangaratta)

Callum Moore (Richmond, Carlton, Wangaratta)

Josh Clayton (Brisbane, Wodonga)

Lukas Webb (Western Bulldogs, Wangaratta Rovers)

Mark Whiley (GWS, Carlton, Yarrawonga)

Michael Gibbons (Carlton, Yarrawonga)

Michael Newton (Melbourne, Wangaratta)

Sam Murray (Collingwood and Sydney, Wangaratta Rovers)

Tom Boyd (GWS and Western Bulldogs, Wangaratta Rovers)

Southern Football League

Dane Swan (Collingwood, St Kilda City)

Liam Sumner (Carlton and GWS, St Pauls)

Myke Cook (Adelaide, Cheltenham)

Tyrone Vickery (Richmond, Springvale Districts)

West Gippsland Football League

Adam Oxley (Collingwood, Tooradin Dalmore)

Brent MaCaffer (Collingwood, Tooradin Dalmore)

Western Region Football League

Aaron Edwards (Richmond and North Melbourne, Deer Park)

Brian Lake (Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn, Caroline Springs)

Connor Menadue (Richmond, Altona)

Courtenay Dempsey (Essendon, Caroline Springs)

Dylan Viojo-Rainbow (Carlton, Werribee Districts)

Levi Greenwood (Collingwood, Deer Park)

Will Young (Adelaide, Caroline Springs)

Victorian Amateur Football Association

Aaron Vandenberg (Melbourne, Old Xaverians)

Alex Fasolo (Carlton and Collingwood, Uni Blues)

Ayce Cordy (Western Bulldogs, Uni Blues)

Billy Gowers (Western Bulldogs, Old Xaverians)

Cam O’Shea (Port Adelaide, Carlton, Uni Blues)

David Mirra (Hawthorn, Collegians)

Doulton Langlands (St Kilda, Ormond)

Hugh Goddard (St Kilda and Carlton, Uni Blues)

Kieran Harper (North Melbourne, Uni Blues)

Martin Gleeson (Essendon, Uni Blues)

Matt Buntine (GWS, Caulfield Grammarians)

Matt Dea (Essendon, Uni Black)

Rohan Bewick (Brisbane, Old Xaverians)

Ryan Schoenmakers (Hawthorn, Old Xaverians)

Sam Grimley (Hawthorn and Essendon, Uni Blues)

Scott Selwood (West Coast, Ivanhoe)

Xavier Richards (Sydney, Old Xaverians)

Victorian Country Football League

Kayne Pettifer (Richmond, Goulburn Valley)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA – 23 players

Local SA footy remains one of the major attractions for former AFL players across Australia, with 21 guns currently competing in the state’s competitions.

The Adelaide Footy League boasts a number of big names including star North Melbourne and Port Adelaide forward Lindsay Thomas, Hawthorn premiership player Paul Puopolo and former Melbourne captain Jack Trengove.

Jack Redden – who finished sixth in West Coast’s 2022 best and fairest count – recently joined Willunga in the Great Southern Football League and will go up against former Collingwood and Melbourne gun Ben Kennedy, while ex-Adelaide ruck Sam Jacobs was another huge name to join a local SA league during the offseason.

Former Port Adelaide and North Melbourne forward Lindsay Thomas has been a goalkicking machine for Portland in the Adelaide Footy League. Picture: Sarah Reed

Adelaide Footy League

Alex Forster (Fremantle, Pembroke OS)

Brad McKenzie (North Melbourne, Payneham Norwood Union)

Cam Shenton (St Kilda, Golden Grove)

Curtly Hampton (GWS and Adelaide, Plympton)

Jack Trengove (Melbourne, Prince Alfred OC)

Jake Neade (Port Adelaide, Portland)

Josh Glenn (Gold Coast, Golden Grove)

Lewis Johnston (Adelaide, Golden Grove)

Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne and Port Adelaide, Portland)

Luke Brown (Adelaide, Tea Tree Gully)

Matt McDonough (Richmond, Lockleys)

Mitch Clisby (Melbourne, Westminster OS)

Mitch Grigg (Adelaide, Athelstone)

Paul Puopolo (Hawthorn, Hope Valley)

Sam Gray (Port Adelaide, Port District)

Adelaide Plains Football League

Byron Sumner (Sydney, Virginia)

Great Southern Football League

Ben Kennedy (Melbourne and Collingwood, Myponga/Sellicks)

Jack Redden (West Coast, Willunga)

Hills Football League

Aidan Riley (Adelaide, Lobethal)

Alex Georgiou (Melbourne, Lobethal)

Brad Hartman (Geelong, Torrens Valley)

Dean Terlich (Melbourne, Uraidla Districts)

Southern Football League

Sam Jacobs (Adelaide and GWS, Flagstaff Hill)

River Murray Football League

Brodie Martin (Adelaide, Coorong Cats)

Yorke Peninsula Football League

Malcolm Karpany (West Coast, Moonta)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA – 19 players

Some major AFL names and crowd favourites continue to dominate local footy leagues across Western Australia.

Exciting and supremely skilled forward Liam Jurrah, known as the ‘Walpiri Wizard’ represented Yuendumu in the season just gone, while cult hero Irving Mosquito has been a standout through the middle and up front for the Port Wyndham Crocs.

Former Port Adelaide man Kane Mitchell represents Quairading, ex-Fremantle star Hayden Ballentyne continues to dominate the forwardline in the Peel Football League, while champion Geelong defender Harry Taylor and Carlton flanker Chris Yarran have proved to be major draw cards for the state’s local game.

Former Essendon excitement machine Irving Mosquito now thrills for Port Wyndham in the East Kimberley Football League. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Avon Football Association

Jarrod Kayler-Thomson (Hawthorn, Cunderdin)

Jarryd Morton (Hawthorn, Beverley)

Kane Mitchell (Port Adelaide, Quairading)

Central Australian Football League

Liam Jurrah (Melbourne, Yuendumu/Wests)

East Kimberley Football League

Cedric Cox (Brisbane, Saints)

Irving Mosquito (Essendon, Port Wyndham Crocs)

Zephaniah Skinner (Western Bulldogs, Looma Eagles)

Goldfields Football League

Gerald Ugle (GWS, Mines Rovers)

Great Northern Football League

Harry Taylor (Geelong, Northampton)

Josh Simpson (Fremantle, Rover)

Metro Football League

Chris Yarran (Carlton, Queens Park)

Peel Football League

Former Freo forward Hayden Ballantyne has starred for Pinjajarra in 2022. Picture: Gary Day NO

Hayden Ballantyne (Fremantle, Pinjajarra)

Perth Football League

Brant Colledge (West Coast, Trinity Acquinas)

Cory Dell’Olio (Essendon, Curtin University)

Nathan Blee (Port Adelaide, Mt Lawley)

South West Football League

Harley Bennell (Gold Coast, Fremantle, Melbourne, Harvey Bulls)

Jesse Crichton (Fremantle, South Bunbury)

West Kimberley Football League

Gerrick Weedon (West Coast, Derby Tigers)

Jarrhan Jacky (Adelaide, Saints)

NORTHERN TERRITORY – 17 players

The Northern Territory Football League’s Premier League competition has again played host to some of the country’s top talent so far this season.

A total of 17 big names have represented NTFL clubs thus far, including Eddie Betts, Hamish Hartlett, Harry Taylor and Mitch Robinson just to name a few.

Arguably the game’s greatest ever player, Gary Ablett Jr will make his NTFL debut tonight when he represents Palmerston against St Mary’s in a huge clash.

Footy legend Gary Ablett Jr will pull on the black and white for Palmerston tonight in the NTFL. Picture: File

Alwyn Davey (Essendon, Palmerston)

Ashton Hams (West Coast, Palmerston)

Cam Ellis-Yolmen (Adelaide, Brisbane, Southern Districts)

Eddie Betts (Adelaide, Carlton, Palmerston)

Gary Ablett Jr (Geelong, Gold Coast, Palmerston)

Hamish Hartlett (Port Adelaide, Nightcliff)

Harley Bennell (Gold Coast, Fremantle, Melbourne, Tiwi Bombers)

Harry Taylor (Geelong, Southern Districts)

John Butcher (Port Adelaide, Nightcliff)

Majak Daw (North Melbourne, Tiwi Bombers)

Marlon Motlop (Port Adelaide, Wanderers)

Matt Stokes (Geelong, Palmerston)

Mitch Robinson (Carlton, Brisbane, Darwin Buffaloes)

Neville Jetta (Melbourne, Palmerston) 

Ryan Nyhuis (Fremantle, Nightcliff)

Sam Darley (GWS and Western Bulldogs, Tiwi Bombers) 

Steven Motlop (Port Adelaide, Geelong, Wanderers)

Travis Varcoe (Geelong, Collingwood, Palmerston)

QUEENSLAND – 12 players

A number of big names have been playing in Queensland, including gun forward Jacob Townsend, former Gold Coast star Jarrod Harbrow and reliable Carlton and Geelong defender Lachie Henderson.

St Kilda star David Armitage recently signed with Palm Beach Currumbin and former Adelaide Crows player Jared Petrenko has joined Port Douglas as playing coach for next season after a season with Broadview in the Adelaide Footy League.

AFL Cairns

Jared Petrenko (Adelaide, Port Douglas)

Queensland AFL

Former St Kilda man David Armitage will play in the QAFL next year. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Andrew Boston (Gold Coast, Labrador) 

Brad Lynch (Western Bulldogs, Broadbeach)

Bryce Retzlaff (Brisbane, Labrador)

David Armitage (St Kilda, Palm Beach Currumbin)

Jacob Townsend (GWS, Richmond, Essendon, Gold Coast, Broadbeach)

Joel Tippett (North Melbourne, Coolangatta)

Jarrod Harbrow (Gold Coast, Broadbeach)

Lachie Henderson (Carlton and Geelong, Labrador)

Liam Dawson (Brisbane, Aspley)

Matt Eagles (Brisbane, Wilston-Grange Gorillas)

Matt Hammelmann (Brisbane, Redland-Victoria Point Sharks)

TASMANIA – five players

Five former AFL players are currently part of Tasmania’s local footy clubs.

Former Brisbane and Essendon forward Josh Green headlines the group.

Green put together a strong 2022 season for Lindisfarne, finishing with 93 goals and claiming the SFL William Leitch award as the competition’s best and fairest in a premiership season.

North West Football League

Luke Russell (Gold Coast, Penguin Football Club)

Maverick Weller (Gold Coast, St Kilda, Richmond, Penguin) 

Old Scholars Football Association

George Burbury (Geelong, Hutchins)

Marcus Davies (Carlton, Hutchins)

Southern Football League

Josh Green has been dominant in local Tasmania footy. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Media/Getty Images

Josh Green (Brisbane, Essendon, Lindisfarne)

NEW SOUTH WALES – three players

Former Carlton star Jeffrey Garlett highlights the ex-AFL players in NSW local footy, the electric forward impressing for Albury in the Victoria/NSW Ovens and Murray Football League.

AFL journeyman Anthony Miles joins Garlett at Albury, while Tim Broomhead has pulled on the boots for North Albury since leaving Collingwood.

Ovens and Murray Football League

Former Carlton forward Jeffrey Garlett currently represents Albury in the OMFL. Picture: Ben Macmahon

Anthony Miles (GWS, Richmond, Gold Coast, Albury)

Jeffrey Garlett (Carlton, Albury)

Tim Broomhead (Collingwood, North Albury)

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