Former Adelaide Crow Cam Ellis-Yolmen eyes midfield berth alongside gun Lions quartet

Escaping Adelaide’s footy bubble and rejoining mates helped Brisbane’s bid for Cam Ellis-Yolmen. And now the former Crow is eyeing a spot in the Lions’ talent-filled midfield.

Eddie Betts (left) and teammate Cam Ellis-Yolmen of the Crows celebrate winning the Round 11 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium in Darwin, Saturday, June 1, 2019. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

A rejuvenated Cam Ellis-Yolmen admits the chance to escape Adelaide’s footy bubble and play alongside good mates Charlie Cameron and Mitch Robinson played a major factor in his signing a three-year deal with Brisbane.

But the 39-game Crow says won’t be resting on his laurels with Ellis-Yolmen setting himself the ominous of breaking into the Lions midfield for 2020.

“Obviously I’m really close with Charlie, even when he moved over I still kept in touch, used to come over here and visit him,” Ellis Yolmen said.

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Former Crow Cameron Ellis-Yolmen (No.28) got up close and personal with new teammate Rhys Mathieson last year. Pic: AAP

“I’m good mates with Mitch Robinson as well (through) the connection from Eddie Betts when he used to come over and visit from Adelaide, so yeah it was a good pull.

“Obviously with (Brisbane) being NRL-based, I think that was a big attraction as well – Adelaide’s so footy-orientated you come over here and you kind of escape from the footy world.”

The 27-year-old spent eight seasons in and out of Adelaide’s senior side and now hopes to impress coach Chris Fagan as a big-bodied midfield option to compliment the likes of Lachie Neale, Larryd Lyons, jarrod Berry and Hugh McCluggage.

“I really liked the direction that the Brisbane Lions are going so I just wanted to come over and start new – I’d been at the Crows for a while and thought I needed something different,” Ellis-Yolmen said.

Ellis-Yolmen hopes to play alongside Lions midfielders Jarryd Lyons, Mitch Robinson and Lachie Neale. Pic: AAP

“They (Brisbane) play good footy and they played really well against us last time so I’m looking forward to trying to get in there and trying to be that bigger body in the midfield that I was playing at the Crows.”

The Lions also unveiled their new co-major sponsor on Monday with Australia logistics company XL Express joining the club.

The XL Express logo will feature on the front of the Lions home guernsey and the back of their away and clash guernseys in 2020 and 2021 with Brisbane CEO Greg Swann welcoming the company’s first foray into sporting sponsorship.

“This is the first time they have ventured into this space and we are thrilled they would trust us with such a big move.”