Where ex-AFL players will feature in 2025
After their time at the top level came to an end, ex-AFL footballers across the country have found their new clubs. See where every delisted player and retired star will play in 2025.
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After more than 70 players saw their time in the AFL come to an end, they’ve already started making decisions on their football futures.
Throughout the 2024-25 off-season, we’ll keep you up to date with every player’s movement.
See where every delisted and retired player will be in 2025.
ADELAIDE
Lachlan Gollant: Williamstown VFL
The leading goalkicker for Adelaide in the SANFL last season is heading to the Seagulls in the VFL for next year.
Ned McHenry: Prince Alfred Old Collegians, Adelaide Football League division one
He will be a player-coach at the Prince Alfred Old Collegians in the Adelaide Footy League. He’s also convinced current Crows player Taylor Walker to join him as an assistant.
Patrick Parnell: Glenelg, SANFL
The ex-Murray Bushrangers small defender has joined Glenelg in the SANFL for next season.
Rory Sloane: No club confirmed
No plans in place for 2025 at this stage. Is likely to be involved in the media.
Will Hamill: Frankston VFL
Has joined Frankston’s VFL team for 2025. His father, Steve, was a former club captain at the Dolphins.
BRISBANE
James Madden: No club confirmed
Has returned to Ireland after his AFL career ended this year.
Jarryd Lyons: Glenelg SANFL
Will return to South Australia to play for Glenelg after announcing his retirement from the AFL last season. The Tigers were Lyons’ SANFL club when he first joined the Adelaide in 2011.
Joe Daniher: No club confirmed
Made a sudden retirement after the AFL grand final win against Sydney. No plans in place to play 2025 at the moment.
Kalin Lane: Claremont WAFL
The Perth-based player is returning home after being delisted by the Lions.
Carter Michael: Williamstown VFL
The former Lion will be back in Victoria after signing for the Seagulls.
CARLTON
Domanic Akuei: Essendon VFL
Didn’t play an AFL game but has plenty of VFL experience, playing 51 games for Carlton in three seasons. Joins the Bombers VFL team for 2025.
Matt Carroll: Carlton SSP
Is currently training with Carlton as an SSP player.
David Cuningham: No club confirmed
Had a medical at the Sydney Swans after being delisted by Carlton at the end of the season. It’s unclear where he is going at this stage.
Sam Durdin: Carlton SSP
Is currently training with Carlton as an SSP player.
Caleb Marchbank: No club confirmed
Another player looking at an AFL lifeline. But no movement as yet for the 27-year-old.
Alex Mirkov: No club confirmed
No movement on what Mirkov is doing for 2025. He is a former Old Ivanhoe Grammarians VAFA player.
COLLINGWOOD
Aiden Begg: North Ringwood, Eastern league
Begg will head home to play for North Ringwood after playing three games for the Pies in the AFL.
Jack Bytel: Coburg VFL/Greenvale, EDFL
Will play for Coburg in the VFL and Greenvale in the EDFL when he isn’t playing for the Lions. Bytel played 29 games for St Kilda and Collingwood.
Josh Eyre: Castlemaine, Bendigo league
The key tall has signed with Castlemaine in the Bendigo league, joining his brothers. He will play the full season there.
Nathan Kreuger: Geelong VFL
The South Australian returns to Geelong after being delisted by the Pies to play in the side’s VFL team.
ESSENDON
Kaine Baldwin: Essendon SSP
Is currently training with the Bombers as an SSP player.
Jayden Davey: Palmerston, NTFL
The son of a gun has played one game in the NTFL side Palmerston. It’s expected he will chase VFL opportunities.
Dyson Heppell: Port Melbourne VFL/ Leongatha, Gippsland league
The former Bombers captain will play VFL football for the Borough next year. He’s also planning to play a couple of games for his home club, Leongatha.
Nick Hind: Darley, Ballarat league/Palmerston, NTFL
Will join former AFL player Brett Bewley at Darley next season. He’s also played at Palmerston in the Northern Territory.
Jaiden Hunter: Claremont WAFL
Will return home to Perth to play for Claremont in the VFL.
Jake Kelly: No club confirmed
Retired at the end of 2024 due to injuries and concussions.
Tex Wanganeen: Port Melbourne VFL
The small forward is off to Port Melbourne after being delisted. He made five appearances for the Bombers.
Sam Weideman: Vermont, Eastern league
It took two weeks for Weideman to return to his home club, Vermont, in the Eastern league after being delisted.
FREMANTLE
Josh Corbett: No club confirmed
Retired at the end of last season after injuries hampered his career.
Tom Emmett: Sturt
Unlucky to be delisted but the forward has returned home to South Australia.
Ethan Hughes: South Fremantle WAFL
Joins South Fremantle after being delisted at the end of the season. The defender was part of Peel Thunder’s 2024 WAFL winning team.
Sebit Kuek: East Perth WAFL
The Kenyan footballer joins East Perth after being delisted. Last season he was out with an ACL injury.
Ethan Stanley: Box Hill VFL
Returns to Box Hill after his AFL career ended last season. Stanley played two games for the Dockers.
Matt Taberner: No club confirmed
No announcement on his future after being delisted.
Conrad Williams: Perth WAFL
Has joined Perth after two seasons with the Dockers. He didn’t play a game for Fremantle during his time.
GEELONG
Phoenix Foster: No club confirmed
Was delisted after failing to play an AFL game. He is a South Australian player, so a return home could be on the cards.
Joe Furphy: No club confirmed
The former basketballer was delisted by the Cats after just one season at the club.
Mitch Hardie: Casey VFL
The Geelong midfielder will join Casey’s VFL team for next season.
Tom Hawkins: Finley, Murray league,/Old Melburnians, VAFA
Hawkins will be part of the Fox Footy commentary team for most of 2025 but the retired Cats legend will play some local footy in 2025. He’s revealed he’ll play a game for his home club, Finley, and a couple for his VAFA side, Old Melburnians.
Emerson Jeka: Altona, WFNL
Returns to his home club Altona next season after one season at the Cats. He played seven games for Hawthorn from 2020 to 2023.
Oscar Murdoch: Newtown & Chilwell, Geelong league
Will stay in Geelong and play for Newtown and Chilwell. It’s unclear whether he’ll also play for the Cats VFL team.
Brandan Parfitt: Nightcliff/Perth WAFL
Has signed a two-year deal to play for Perth in the WAFL after being delisted by the Cats at the end of the 2024 season.
Gary Rohan: Port Fairy, Hampden league
The livewire forward is heading to country footy after signing with Port Fairy in the Hampden league.
Zach Tuohy: No club confirmed
The Irishman retired at the end of the season after almost 300 games for two clubs. No confirmed signing of where he is heading for 2025 but the rumour is he might be heading to country footy.
James Willis: North Adelaide
Returns to the SANFL and North Adelaide after three seasons with the Cats.
GOLD COAST
Sandy Brock: No club
Is currently training with West Coast as a SSP player.
Levi Casboult: Palm Beach Currumbin
Will join the QAFL team after 197 AFL games for two clubs. Casboult will be a player and assistant coach.
Brandon Ellis: No club confirmed
The Tigers premiership midfielder retired at the end of 2024 after playing his final few years at Gold Coast.
Oskar Faulkhead: North Adelaide
The former Sun will move to South Australia and play for North Adelaide in the SANFL. He is a former Geelong VFL player.
Darcy Macpherson: North Melbourne VFL
Has signed with North Melbourne’s VFL team for 2025 as he looks for an AFL lifeline following his delisting.
Jack Mahony: St Kevin’s, VAFA
The former Sun will be playing in the VAFA for next season with St Kevin’s.
Hewago Oea: Gold Coast SSP
Is currently training with the Gold Coast as a SSP player.
Will Rowlands: Norwood
Rowlands returns back to the SANFL after playing for the Suns. He is back at Norwood.
James Tsitas: Gold Coast VFL
Remains at Gold Coast as not only a coach but a player as well. Will play with the VFL team.
GWS GIANTS
Cooper Hamilton: Carlton VFL/Rochester, Goulburn Valley
The social media star will play VFL football for the Blues and for the Tigers in the Goulburn Valley league after being delisted.
Adam Kennedy: No club confirmed
Kennedy has joined rivals Sydney as a coach after his career at the Giants. It’s unclear if he is playing in 2025.
Braydon Preuss: Yarragon, Ellinbank District
The former ruckman has joined Yarragon in the Ellinbank District league. One of the biggest signings the club has ever made.
HAWTHORN
Josh Bennetts: Collingwood VFL/Rowville
The small forward was delisted at the end of the season without playing an AFL game and now will play for the Pies.
Denver Grainger-Barras: Carlton SSP
Aiming to lock away a place at Carlton after being let go by the Hawks.
Cooper Stephens: East Perth WAFL
The 23-year-old from Colac has made the move west after stints with Geelong (seven games) and Hawthorn (zero).
Jack O’Sullivan: No club confirmed
Played 13 VFL games with Box Hill this season but never earned a senior call up.
Ethan Phillips: Carlton VFL
Played one game for the Hawks before being delisted after being recruited from Port Melbourne.
Clay Tucker: No club confirmed
The young ruck never played a senior game after being picked up in the 2023 mid-season draft.
Chad Wingard: No club confirmed
Retired at the end of the 2024 season and has landed a job with the AFL.
MELBOURNE
Ben Brown: No club confirmed
Announced his retirement at the end of the 2024 season and there had been some suggestions he’d link up with good mate Michael Hartley at Castlemaine.
Kyah Farris-White: No club confirmed
The former Category B rookie played 12 games for Casey during his career. To further his development, he was also playing in the VAFA.
Lachie Hunter: No club confirmed
Retired from the AFL after 199 games this season. Not locked in anywhere yet but rumours suggest he could stay out west.
Josh Schache: East Doncaster, Eastern league
Make his way to Melbourne’s Eastern league competition after being let go by the Demons.
Adam Tomlinson: No club confirmed
Wasn’t offered a new deal by the Dees at the end of the season.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Blake Drury: Adelaide SANFL
Let go with Melbourne but the 20-year-old has landed with the Crows’ SANFL side.
Hamish Free: South Fremantle
Returns to the WAFL club where he earned his AFL opportunity from.
Hugh Greenwood: No club confirmed
Retired at the end of the season and has moved back to the Gold Coast Suns as an academy coach.
Charlie Lazzaro: Port Melbourne VFL
Let go by North at the end of the season and joins a Port outfit which is full of ex-AFL players.
Bigoa Nyuon: Ballarat, Ballarat league
Has made the move to the Swans in the Ballarat league after three games for North.
Tyler Sellers: Essendon VFL
Has linked with the Bombers for next season as he looks for a lifeline back to the top level.
Liam Shiels: South Croydon, Eastern league
Following his retirement, he’s returned to the Eastern League. He also is North’s national talent scout.
Jaidyn Stephenson: Ferntree Gully, Eastern league
One of the biggest signings of the off-season. Announced his retirement and then returned to his junior club.
Curtis Taylor: Collingwood VFL
Will hope to boost his AFL chances of an AFL return with strong form for the Pies’ VFL team.
PORT ADELAIDE
Tom Clurey: Southern Districts NTFL
Currently playing in the NT where his future lies in the winter months remains to be seen.
Charlie Dixon: No club confirmed
Retired at the end of the season and hasn’t been locked in to play any footy yet.
Francis Evans: Carlton VFL
Returns to Victoria after time with Port. His home club for next season is yet to be confirmed.
Kyle Marshall: Port Adelaide SANFL
Was delisted by the Power’s AFL side but has been retained under SANFL rules/
Tom McCallum: Norwood
The Tasmanian is set to remain in South Australia after his time with the Power was cruelled by injury.
Trent McKenzie: No club confirmed.
It’s unclear what his next move is.
Tom Scully: West Adelaide SANFL
Returns to the club after being let go by Port Adelaide.
RICHMOND
Matthew Coulthard: No club confirmed
It remains unclear where the South Australian will play next season after being let go by Richmond.
Noah Cumberland: Maroochydore
After his delisting by the Tigers, Cumberland has made the move home to his junior club where he was a five-time premiership winner as a kid.
Dylan Grimes: No club confirmed
Retired at the end of the 2024 season as a three-time premiership player.
Dustin Martin: No club confirmed
Was long linked with a move to the Gold Coast Suns after retiring. It would be a major shock if he was to play anywhere in 2025.
Sam Naismith: No club confirmed
Has joined Freo as a development coach after retiring in 2024. Suffered another serious knee injury.
Marlion Pickett: Melton South, Riddell District FNL/Tiwi Bombers, NTFL
Will spend the winter months with Melton South in Melbourne’s west but is currently playing with the Tiwi Bombers in the NTFL after retiring.
ST KILDA
Matthew Allison: Coburg VFL
The key forward has signed with the Lions after leaving St Kilda.
Riley Bonner: No club confirmed
There has been a rush for his signature but the race has not yet been won.
Brad Crouch: Noble Park assistant coach
Shortly after confirming his retirement from the AFL, Crouch linked up with the Eastern league powerhouse as a non-playing assistant coach.
Jack Hayes: Woodville-West Torrens
Returns to the Eagles after being let go by the Saints.
Olli Hotton: North Melbourne VFL
One of the first signings of the off-season for the Roos’ VFL side.
Seb Ross: Colac, Geelong FNL
Has joined the Tigers as a playing coach after his time in the AFL came to an end.
James Van Es: Port Melbourne VFL
Joins the revolution at the Boro where he will link up with plenty of other North Ballarat products.
SYDNEY
Harry Arnold: Brisbane VFL/Morningside Panthers
Let go by the Swans and has linked up with Brisbane’s VFL side. Morningside will be his feeder club.
Jaiden Magor: South Adelaide
Returns to the Panthers where he was recruited from in the 2022 rookie draft.
Lachlan McAndrew: Adelaide SANFL
Has linked with the Crows’ state league team and is providing training support with Kieran Strachan sidelined.
Sam Reid: No club confirmed
After calling time on his career, it’s rumoured there are plenty of clubs lighting up his phone.
Cooper Vickery: Carlton VFL/Bairnsdale
Drafted back in 2022, Vickery never broke through for a senior appearance.
WEST COAST
Jordyn Baker: East Perth WAFL
Signed as a Category B rookie in 2022 but never broke through for a senior appearance.
Coby Burgiel: No club confirmed
Recently informed he won’t be a train-on with the Eagles after Christmas.
Jai Culley: Casey VFL/Langwarrin
Expected to spend most of next season with Melbourne’s affiliate. If he gets the opportunity, he will play locally with his junior club Langwarrin.
Luke Edwards: No club confirmed
Stepped away from footy to continue his recovery from multiple concussions.
Andrew Gaff: No club confirmed
Pulled the pin on his AFL career but is yet to reveal his next move.
Jamaine Jones: South Fremantle WAFL
Has linked with the WAFL club after being delisted.
Josh Rotham: West Perth WAFL
Will remain in the state league next season. He reportedly had some interest from Essendon after leaving the Eagles.
Zane Trew: Swan Districts WAFL
Has returned to his former club, signing a two-year deal.
Alex Witherden: No club confirmed
The 26-year-old remained hopeful of a third club. A former Geelong Falcon, could he return to the region?
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Dominic Bedendo: Port Melbourne VFL
Has joined a host of ex-AFL players in joining the stand-alone club.
Charlie Clarke: No club confirmed
The one-game small forward hasn’t revealed his next move yet.
Alex Keath: East Brighton, Southern league
One of the biggest moves of the off-season after landing at the Vampires.
Kelsey Rypstra: North Adelaide SANFL
Returns to the club where he was taken from in the 2024 mid-season draft
Originally published as Where ex-AFL players will feature in 2025
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