Brandon Ellis chats about his move from Richmond to Gold Coast ahead of 2020 AFL season

Suns recruit Brandon Ellis says he was left shaken when told by Richmond he was no longer required. The wingman chats about his big move and how he’ll make Gold Coast more like the Tigers.

Dual premiership player and Suns recruit Brandon Ellis says he was left shaken up when told by Richmond he was no longer required, but insists there is no bad blood with the Tigers as he begins a new chapter at Gold Coast.

Ellis was told by the Tigers midway through the 2019 season that he would be moved on, a decision that opened the door for his shift to Queensland where he will spend the next five years playing for the Suns.

“I was pretty shaken up and upset when I was told,” Ellis said.

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“But it’s a business at the end of the day and these sorts of things happen.

“I have no bad blood with Richmond at all. I love them, they have given me this opportunity and shown me this new life.

“They took me as an 18-year-old and set me up and made me the person I am today so I can’t thank them enough.”

Ellis has been living with teammate and Gold Coast co-captain David Swallow as he searches for his own place as he settles into life at the Suns after playing 176 games for Richmond over eight years where he won two flags, the latest in his final game for the club.

Gold Coast Suns recruit Brandon Ellis at pre-season training.

The 26-year-old, who consulted with former Suns and current Tigers Dion Prestia and Tom Lynch before making the move, said he wanted to bring the same fun approach to football that enabled Richmond to go from a club under siege to one that has won two of the past three premierships.

The approach was made famous by vision of Tigers player Jack Higgins telling jokes between quarters.

It may be harder to cut-through at the Gold Coast where wins have been scarce but Ellis said that is exactly why they needed it.

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“Football is just a game, it doesn’t define us as people,” Ellis said.

“It’s our job at the end of the day. I remember when I was playing football when I was young it was all about fun.

“I want to try and bring that element to it up here because that is what we did the last three years at the Tigers and it really turned the club around and turned our wins and losses around.

“I’m not saying that is the secret to success but you want to be really enjoying your job at all times. “That is what I want to try and bring up here as well.”

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