Liam Jones has opened up on the reality of life after retirement from the AFL

Liam Jones will play for Palm Beach Currumbin Lions this year after quitting the AFL over its vaccine mandate. He opens up about the move and what comes next.

Liam Jones has spoken publicly for the first time since his shock AFL retirement in November, revealing what kind of work he will pursue, his inability to link with family in Western Australia and the support from his former Carlton teammates.

Jones, 30, was reserved when speaking at Palm Beach Currumbin Lions training on Monday afternoon, choosing not to answer questions about the reasons for his AFL retirement, which he referred to as a “whirlwind”.

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“The whirlwind has come about through circumstance,” Jones told News Corp.

“Melbourne had been my home for 14 years almost. To pack up and leave was more exciting than scary.

“I am looking forward to looking for work and finding what’s next. I’ve been kicking the football around for as long as I can remember so I’d like to play for as long as I can.”

Jones, who has based himself in Kingscliff and travels across the Queensland-New South Wales border to train at Palm Beach Currumbin, said the decision to move north “happened a bit randomly”.

Liam Jones was the first player to quit because of the AFL’s Covid policy. Picture: AFL Photos

“I have my sisters over in WA so I think the world being a bit different I may have ended up over there, but just through circumstance this was an area that was accessible,” he said.

“I was keen to get out of Melbourne for the short term.”

Palm Beach president Anne Cornish told News Corp earlier this month that Jones’ management got in touch with the club in November, soon after his retirement.

“It wasn’t football first, it was where we wanted to live first,” Jones said of the early decisions after his AFL exit.

“I leant on my manager for a lot of things. I don’t know football outside of the AFL, VFL or Tassie league. He got in touch with Palm Beach and they were really accommodating.

“Since I’ve been here it’s been great, training has been great and it’s looking like a great decision.”

The 30-year-old would not answer questions about his AFL exit, which came after he chose not to receive a Covid-19 jab in line with the league’s vaccination policy, but did say he had received plenty of support from his former teammates.

“They’ve been great,” he said.

“I feel like I was always a players’ player. I would do anything if I could when I was out on the footy ground whether it be training or in games.

“From what I have got back from the players is love and support. I feel like I gave 100 per cent when I was involved with the football club and I really feel that was appreciated by the players.

Liam Jones at training for his new club Palm Beach Currumbin. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“Obviously I miss the players and I love the game but I’m excited about running out with these boys (at Palm Beach) now and creating new relationships.”

As for work, Jones is still undecided.

“I’m not sure yet, I’m still settling in as we’ve only been up here for a few weeks,” he said.

“Hopefully something in the fitness industry because that is something I am passionate about … ideally when I finished up I was looking to get into that field, but I’m not ruling out anything else.

“I’m just leaning on the people around me and some people at the football club who have been great and just hoping some opportunities come up.”

Jones joined his new QAFL teammates at pre-season training for the first time last week.

He will take on a player-coach role at the club – something he said was not high on his list of priorities prior to November.

“To be honest I never had any aspirations of being a coach – I feel like that may have come with more experience, but I’m still quite young,” he said.

“I see myself leading the group. Through my 13 years in the AFL I imagine I have a lot of things that could be valuable to the group.

“I’ll be helping the backline and its defensive setups which I know quite well and I’ll look to be a mentor and help out in any way that I can.

“Where I can be of use, I’m happy.”

Could protein-based vaccine save Darling’s career?

The government’s approval of the Novavax vaccine has left the door ajar for Jack Darling to play for West Coast in round one.

It comes as Darling was still absent at Eagles training on Monday despite claiming last week he was on sick leave.

Novavax will be rolled out in Australia from February 21 after the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation gave the vaccine the green light.

There is speculation Darling would consider the new protein-based vaccine, allowing him a second chance at returning to the Eagles this season despite missing Friday’s first-dose deadline.

If Darling received his first dose on February 21 when Novavax becomes available, the 29-year-old would be eligible to receive his second jab three weeks later on March 14.

West Coast are due to host Gold Coast in round one six days later on Sunday, March 20.

Darling would still face significant challenges to remain in playing condition with proof of vaccination set to be required at gyms and fitness centres from January 31.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the approval of Novavax was “very important news” in a bid to immunise vaccine-hesitant Australians.

Jack Darling cannot return to the Eagles until he has been vaccinated. Picture: Getty Images

“If you do have a contraindication, for those for whatever reason have not felt comfortable joining the program so far, this is your opportunity,” Hunt said.

Darling was still absent at training on Monday despite sensationally accusing the club of lying about his vaccination status, writing on social media “I have been diagnosed with suffering from a related injury and as a result I am on sick leave until further notice.”

It left West Coast significantly short up forward in a half of match simulation.

Josh Kennedy, who is tipped to retire at the end of the year, was restricted to jogging laps.

While spearhead in waiting Oscar Allen was also withheld from match simulation, completing some drills with the main group before continuing to be managed with extra running on the back oval.

Without their entire three-prong attack, the Eagles were forced to restructure.

Jake Waterman (193cm) was stationed at full forward at one end, manned by Harry Edwards while Bailey Williams (201cm) went head-to-head with Tom Barrass at the other end.

The pair were supported by a fleet of small to medium forwards, forcing the midfield to rethink their ball movement inside 50.

Elliot Yeo rejoined the main group during the early stages of the session but didn’t take part in match simulation.

The midfielder continued to be managed on the back oval instead, working with a coach on driving his legs through congestion and further conditioning running.

Jack Redden continues to progress after off-season shoulder surgery, marking overhead and playing an active part in match simulation albeit while wearing a bright yellow non-contact cap.

Sam Petrevski-Seton, Liam Duggan, Luke Edwards and Zane Trew were other Eagles on light duties throughout the two hour session.

‘Doctor’s orders’: Star explains absence after vaccine shock

West Coast forward Jack Darling has offered an explanation as to why he is one of two footballers to not meet the latest Covid vaccination deadline.

Darling and Brisbane midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen did not comply with AFL policy that stipulated players at WA, Queensland and SA teams needed to have their first dose by Friday, making them ineligible to take to the field, train or attend their clubs.

In an Instagram post that was liked by Ellis-Yolmen, Darling said a doctor had diagnosed him with a work-related injury and placed him on sick leave until further notice.

Darling, 29, would not go into details of his health condition, wanting to keep it private.

But the one-time All-Australian said West Coast had been provided with a medical certificate.

“The reason for my absence today was due to doctor’s orders,” Darling, who played in the Eagles’ 2018 premiership, posted on Friday.

“I am doing my best to work with the club and my doctors so I can recover from my injury.

“I intend to return back to training as soon as I am fit and able.”

Earlier on Friday, West Coast said Darling would “take some time to assess his future” after not adhering to the league’s Covid training and playing mandates.

“The club will continue to support Jack as he contemplates his options and is optimistic that he will return to build on his outstanding career to date,” the Eagles said in a statement.

“While the club does respect the right to personal choice, it also supports the protocols put in place by the AFL and governments – both federal and state – as they navigate their way through this persistent and challenging pandemic.”

Brisbane placed Ellis-Yolmen, 29, on its inactive list on Friday.

The 48-gamer asked the AFL for an exemption but was knocked back.

In a club statement, the Lions said they respected Ellis-Yolmen’s right to personal choice but were committed to the AFL’s protocols to “safeguard the com

Jack Darling shared this statement on Instagram.

petition and protect the health and wellbeing of its players”.

“Neither the Lions nor Cameron will make any further comment,” the statement said.

Darling and Ellis-Yolmen join Liam Jones (Carlton), along with AFLW duo Deni Varnhagen (Adelaide) and Georgia Patrikios (St Kilda), in not abiding by the league’s Covid policy.

Jones retired in November after refusing to get jabbed.

Vernhagen and Patrikios also resisted before being placed on their clubs’ inactive lists.

Brisbane has placed Cam Ellis-Yolmen on its inactive list.

North Melbourne midfielder Jed Anderson has had one dose but is hesitant to get a second due to a poor reaction to his first.

Players at Queensland, SA and WA clubs need to have their second shot by February 18.

Those at Victorian and New South Wales clubs are already required to be double vaccinated.

Earlier this week, West Coast captain Luke Shuey said he expected all of his teammates would get the jab.

Jack Darling’s future is uncertain.

Jack Darling competes for a mark with Liam Jones.

“It is something I think we need to stay out of and something I don’t probe the guys on and something I’m probably not going to comment on publicly too much, to be honest,” Shuey said.

“Because it is a private issue for whoever is unvaccinated at the moment, to sort through themselves.

“I’m confident by whenever it needs to be done, guys will have done what they need to.”

Darling, a four-time club leading goalkicker, has played 236 games for the Eagles since being drafted in 2010.

Moving Ellis-Yolmen to the inactive list opens a rookie spot for Brisbane.

The South Australian has played nine games for the Lions since joining them from Adelaide as a free agent at the end of 2019.

Originally published as Liam Jones has opened up on the reality of life after retirement from the AFL