South Cairns Cutters signed former Richmond Tigers premiership player Brandon Ellis

After stepping away from the AFL due to mental fatigue, former Richmond Tigers premiership star and Gold Coast Sun Brandon Ellis has rediscovered his love for the game, signing with the South Cairns Cutters for the 2025 season. This is why.

Former Richmond premiership star and Gold Coast Sun Brandon Ellis has inked a deal with the South Cairns Cutters for the 2025 season.

Months after stepping away from the AFL due to mental fatigue, the Cutters have announced the popular AFL figure would be joining the club as they look to win a second straight premiership.

Ellis retired from the Suns in 2024 in late July following his 251st game in the AFL.

The 31-year-old said it was a tough decision to make.

“I wasn’t going to play at all, I was going to have the year off,” Ellis said.

“Mentally I was pretty cooked, physically I was alright but mentally I was just done.

“But then I started running again and had a kick of the footy on Monday morning with a mate and I was just like ‘f*** I really miss it’.

“So I was like may as well give the Cutters a call because I knew they were pretty keen and it happened pretty quick. It is going to be good fun.”

Brandon Ellis stepped away from the game in 2024 due to the mental fatigue the game had on him. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Richmond vs Gold Coast Suns at the Gabba, Brisbane. Ex Tiger now Sun Brandon Ellis and Dustin Martin of the Tigers battle . Pic: Michael Klein

The last time Ellis was in Cairns was for the 2024 AFL Cairns grand final where he delivered the pre-game speech to the Cutters.

But it hasn’t been the best hunting ground for the former Tiger who was part of the Richmond team that lost to the Suns when former rugby league star Karmichael Hunt kicked a goal after the siren at Cazalys Stadium.

“Hopefully we don’t lose a game when I get up there,” Ellis said.

“I was a part of the Karmichael Hunt game at Cazalys so it brings back good and bad memories that ground.

“It was actually funny because the last time I played there was when Karmichael Hunt kicked the goal after the siren and the last time I went up there was to watch South Cairns Cutters win a premiership.

“So it is a little bittersweet that ground, I finished on a good note which was good and hopefully we can go all the way again and we can actually win a granny on that ground.

“It would be nice.”

It is understood Ellis will play 5-10 games of the home and away season and will be playing along side his great mate Tom Fields.

Despite the plan just to come up to have some fun and enjoy the game again, Ellis has left the door open to a potential move to the Tropics.

“Just come up, bit of fun, relaxing time, see how it goes, that is all that’s sort of agreed on at the moment,” Ellis said.

“But who knows, it could be our future up there helping with the juniors and developing.

“But at the moment, purely just have a bit of fun, kick the footy around again and play with your mates.

“That’s what it is going to be about for now, no pressure, no expectations, just get out there, go have some fun and play with a bunch of people I don’t really know.

“But I get to make some new friends again which is always nice.

“I love Cairns as well, Cairns is awesome, I have been up there a few times with Richmond doing pre-season camps, obviously played there a few times but have been on a few holidays there as well.”

Originally published as South Cairns Cutters signed former Richmond Tigers premiership player Brandon Ellis