Local footy: Ex-AFL stars set to play suburban footy in 2021
Geelong champion Harry Taylor has joined the growing list of retired and delisted AFL guns to play local footy in 2021. We reveal their new clubs.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
After COVID-19 scuttled his post-AFL plans to travel overseas, Heath Shaw didn’t take a lot of convincing to pull the boots on at East Keilor this season.
His good mate, Pat Christofi, was the head coach and, having been keen to play on with the Greater Western Sydney Giants in 2021, still felt he had a bit left in the tank.
But there was one caveat – he wanted to go back to the future.
“The sealer was I did say to him ‘Mate, I’ve been stuck on the halfback flank for 16 years at AFL level, I want to play forward,” Shaw said.
Watch every match of the 2021 AAMI Community Series LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >
“So the plan is to line up in the forward line at some point, so I’m looking forward to that.
“When I was younger I sort of started as a forward and then went into the midfield and then gravitated back. It will be a little bit of a blast from the past but I think playing 16 years at the top level in the backline, you know most of the tricks that the forwards do.
“I’ve definitely taken a few hints and understand a few things about playing in the forward line by trying to defend it for so long.”
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WHERE OTHER AX-AFL PLAYERS HAVE SIGNED
After a 325-game career in the AFL – 173 at Collingwood and 152 at the Giants – Shaw will line-up with the division two team in the Essendon District Football League this season.
The premiership backman is among a swath of delisted or retired AFL players to make the return to suburban, metro or country leagues this year, eager to carry on for the love of the game as they use up the remaining fuel in the tank.
Shaw, 35, had been eager to play on for an eighth season with the Giants, but the club didn’t have him in their plans for 2021.
“I didn’t retire – and I still haven’t retired – and the reason why I said I wasn’t retiring was because I wanted to play another year at the Giants,” Shaw said.
“Obviously they had different ideas. I would have found it hard to go and play at a third club.
“So the reason for not retiring is I wanted to play at the Giants and when that didn’t work out I was more than comfortable to settle into retirement.
“So the plan was to spend a bit of time overseas in retirement but seeing as we can’t do that the next best thing was to have a little kick around somewhere.”
Shaw was looking forward to getting back to playing football in a more “relaxed environment” away from the pressures of AFL, but he won’t be lacking any of his famous on-field intensity.
He is hoping to help the division two team is promoted to division one in the EDFL and he can play on beyond this season.
“I’ve always been a competitive beast,” Shaw said.
“When I commit to something or when I get out there, I obviously want to win and no doubt as soon as I get out there and, even with the training, the competitive juices will flow.
“It’s a bit more of a relaxed environment playing local football, but at the same time I want to win and I want to play well and hopefully kick some goals.”
After taking a break from kicking the football after his last game for the Giants, Shaw was planning to ease back into training – aware his body wasn’t getting any younger.
“I’ve still got to remember that I’m not 21 anymore, I am 35 and even a 35-year-old at local level can still get very sore,” he said.
“I’ll ease my way into the training over the next few weeks and from there hopefully sharpen up the skills a little bit. I’m a natural sort of leader and natural coach on the field so looking forward to helping out the Keilor boys and then coming up with some little tricks of our own.”
Never one to shy away from a little bit of chatter on the field, Shaw expected to be on the receiving end as an AFL player sliding back down the footy ladder.
“I definitely expect a little bit of banter over the fence and on the field,” Shaw said.
“But at the end of the day if you perform well then they really haven’t got much to talk about.
“That’s my aim and hopefully I can keep opposition and opposition supporters pretty quiet.”
Dual premiership Hawk Matt Suckling was lured to play with Ormond in the VAFA through Hawthorn connections after calling time on his AFL career at his second club – the Western Bulldogs – at the end of last season.
Suckling’s former Hawks’ teammate, ruckman Max Bailey, was appointed coach of the club’s under-19 team last year.
Not only was Suckling eager to keep having a kick, he found the club could help open doors for post-AFL employment opportunities in his major off-field interest – sneakers.
“After I finished up, I was speaking to a few clubs as everyone does and had a couple of links at Ormond through old Hawthorn connections – Max Bailey an old teammate of mine is one of the coaches there,” Suckling said.
“So I had a few connections at the club and I just got chatting with them about a few of my interests and areas where they think they could help me off-field and it seemed to align pretty well.
“That was the main attraction to go to the VAFA – employment opportunities. I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do, but my off-field interests aligned pretty strongly with ways they could connect so we’re going through that at the moment.
“I’ve got a keen eye in fashion and sneakers, it’s pretty well know that I love my sneakers and they’ve got some wonderful contacts throughout the sneaker industry in Melbourne and I’m really networking at the moment, having lots of zoom calls and in talks about internships and growing that in the next few months so it’s a really exciting time.”
Suckling, a member of the Hawks 2014 and 2015 premiership teams before joining the Bulldogs as an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2015, was looking forward to getting back to playing football in a more “laid back” setting.
“I grew up in country New South Wales in Wagga Wagga and remember going to watch my dad play in the country and I never got to experience it fully sort of coming out of under-18s straight into Melbourne,” Suckling said.
“Going back to an environment where it is a bit more laid back and training twice a week it has been quite refreshing and getting to know a whole group of new teammates has been great as well.
“Hopefully I’ve got a few more years left running around … I’m probably going to enjoy the fact that I won’t have to run as far.”
Suckling will also take on an assistant coaching role at Ormond and is enjoying the chance over the pre-season so far to build on his skills.
“I never knew that I wanted to get into coaching throughout my career, but as I got older I enjoyed working with the younger guys over the last couple of years,” Suckling said.
“There was an opportunity to upskill in this area and take on an assistant coach role … and that’s something I’m really excited about as well.
“I never saw myself going down the coaching route but I definitely wanted to take up the opportunity … I am just learning the ropes and have been really enjoying it so far.”
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
MAJAK DAW
The former Kangaroo has found a new football home in the northern suburbs where he will play alongside a North Melbourne great. Daw has signed with division one Northern Football League side North Heidelberg for the next two seasons. The 29-year-old will link up with former teammate and AFL games record holder Brent Harvey and will also play alongside his brother, Anthony. Daw was delisted at the end of last season after 54 games for the Kangaroos. He made an inspirational return to the game in Round 9 last year after recovering from a fall from the Bolte Bridge. “We view the arrival of Majak as a big plus for the club as we look to consolidate in Division 1 of the NFNL after our third position finish in season 2019,” the club said.
BRYCE GIBBS
The 2006 No. 1 draft pick will line up with South Adelaide in the SANFL after calling time on his AFL career. It was thought Gibbs would return to his former SANFL club, Glenelg, where his father played and he came through the ranks as a teenager, but he will pull on the boots for the Panthers and will also take on a role for the club with its underage talent programs. Gibbs played 268 games in his AFL career – 231 with Carlton and 37 with the Adelaide Crows after crossing to the club at the end of 2017. “I’m very excited, I still think I’ve got a lot to give in leadership and to come to a club that has a good mix of seasoned SANFL players and youth, it was a really good fit,” Gibbs said. “I’ve built some really good skills and experience over my 14-year career, and I think it would have been a waste if I had stepped away from this level of footy as I can pass on these skills and knowledge to these young players.”
SAM LLOYD
The former Richmond and Western Bulldogs player has signed to play with Bundoora in the Northern Football League. Lloyd played 89 AFL games between 2014 and 2020, kicking 114 goals after arriving at Punt Road as a mature-aged recruit in 2013. Lloyd, 30, announced his surprise retirement in December, despite having a year to run on his contract. “He definitely won’t be pigeonholed as a forward at Bundoora,” coach Michael Ryan said. “It’s going to be exciting to see Sam roll through the midfield then go deep forward and have a rest and hopefully kick a few goals.”
PAUL PUOPOLO
The three-time premiership Hawk returns to his former club Norwood in the SANFL after 10 years in the AFL. Puopolo started his career at Norwood and played 68 games for the club before he was drafted to Hawthorn at the end of 2010. He went on to play in the Hawks’ 2013, 2014 and 2015 premiership teams before retiring at the end of last season. He played 196 games for the Hawks and kicked 196 goals. “It’s a bit of a different feeling since I left and now returning,” Puopolo said of his return to the club. “ Growing up playing for Norwood as a kid it holds a special place in my heart, and I’m delighted to return.”
ALEX RANCE
The retired Richmond premiership star is set to make a surprise return to the game in Western Australia this year – pending ongoing border dramas. Rance, who announced his shock retirement from the AFL in late 2019, will play back-to-back matches for Perth Football League C2-Grade outfit Swan Valley in rounds four and five, scheduled for May 1 and May 8. The five-time All-Australian is hopeful of playing the minimum amount of games needed to qualify for finals – five in a full 18-round season – and plans to make up the rest of the games later in the season. Rance, 31, one of the game’s great modern-day defenders played the last of his 200 AFL games in the first round of 2019 when he seriously injured his knee.
BEN REID
The former Collingwood swingman is making a return to his country roots after calling time on his AFL career at the end of last season. Reid, who grew up in Bright, has signed to play with the Wangaratta Magpies in the Ovens and Murray Football League in 2021. The 31-year-old played for the Wangaratta Rovers as a junior before a 14-year AFL career with the Magpies, including the 2010 premiership. Reid was restricted to 16 games in his last three seasons with the Magpies – just two in his final year – due to injuries, finishing his career on 152 games. “I’m rapt to get back up here. It’s been 14 years away from the northeast, so to get back here and get involved with Wang … it’s exciting and I’m looking forward to it.”
HEATH SHAW
Shaw admitted the word retirement didn’t “sit that well” with him after he was delisted by Greater Western Sydney at the end of last season. The 2010 Collingwood premiership defender’s AFL’s days might be over, but he will pull the boots on again in the northern suburbs this season. Shaw has signed on to play for East Keilor in division one of the Essendon District Football League in 2021. Shaw played 325 games in his 16-year AFL career – 173 at Collingwood and 152 at GWS.
HARRY TAYLOR
The dual Geelong premiership defender is making a return to where his footy career began in Western Australia. Taylor has signed to play with his junior club Northampton in the Great Northern Football League this year. The two-time All-Australian moved back to his home in Geraldton after he called time on his 280-game career at the end of last season. “I’m going to go back to where it all started and just try to help out and play a few games if I can,” Taylor said.
MATT SCHARENBERG
The former Collingwood backman has signed to play with AFL Outer East outfit Olinda Ferny-Creek after 41 senior games with the Magpies. In a career hampered by injury, Scharenberg played just three games in final season with the Pies after returning from a third knee reconstruction the following year. He is a former top-10 draft pick. “We’ve tried to make a bit of a shift from an older list to a younger list, and he (Scharenberg) complements that,” Olinda Ferny-Creek sports management group chairman Grant Faull said. “He said he wanted to come and enjoy his footy.”
MATT SUCKLING
The dual premiership Hawk and most recently, Western Bulldogs player, will take on a role as a playing assistant coach with Ormond in the VAFA. The booming left-footer retired at the end of last season after 178 senior games, the last 76 with the Bulldogs. “I always knew when my AFL career finished that I was going to end up playing somewhere, I wasn’t quite sure where it would be and I’m lucky enough to land at Ormond, which is a great club,” Suckling said.
JACKSON TRENGOVE
The former Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs defender will slide into his post-AFL career playing in the Murray Football League. Trengove has signed to play with the Barooga Football Club. After he was delisted by the Bulldogs, the 30-year-old called time on his AFL career after 186 games spanning 12 years with Port and the Bulldogs. “We’re pretty lucky to have someone of his talent and experience come to the club,” Barooga coach Tim Hargreaves said. “I’ve already had a few discussions with him and he’s pretty keen to play in the ruck. He says that’s his best position.”
MARLEY WILLIAMS
The former Magpie and North Melbourne player will play for the Port Melbourne Colts in division one of the Southern Football League. Williams was cut from the Kangaroos at the end of the 2020 season following a 128-game career at Collingwood and Arden St. “He’s excited to be with us. He’s actually one of the most excited players on the list. He can’t wait to play. He’ll be very good to watch in the league,” Colts’ president Stephen Duvnjak said.
Originally published as Local footy: Ex-AFL stars set to play suburban footy in 2021
Ablett family reveal details of son’s condition
Jordan and Gary Ablett had chosen not to reveal many details about their little boy’s heartbreaking condition until now.
Four Cats sign on as flag trio remain without deals
Four Cats have signed short-term contracts with the club, including a free agent. It means three ageing stars are the only uncontracted Geelong players at the club.