Former Carlton footballer Liam Jones signs with Gold Coast club Palm Beach Currumbin

Former Carlton footballer Liam Jones, who retired in November after failing to meet the AFL’s Covid-19 vaccine policy, has signed for a Queensland club.

Retired AFL footballer Liam Jones has signed with Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL) club Palm Beach Currumbin Lions, the Gold Coast club announced via Facebook on Friday afternoon.

The former Carlton defender announced his shock AFL retirement in November last year after failing to meet the one-dose Covid-19 deadline under the AFL’s vaccine policy.

Jones had played 161 games at Carlton and the Western Bulldogs over 12 seasons.

Palm Beach coach Russell Maloney, holidaying in Airlie Beach, confirmed the signing soon after the post went live.

“I knew it was happening and the club kept me informed of it all. They’ve suddenly rung me and said the deal was done,” Maloney told News Corp.

Maloney said the club was always in the hunt for “a big fish” and when it failed to land delisted Gold Coast Sun Jacob Townsend, who went to VFL side Southport, Jones somehow fell in the lap.

“His manager contacted us and told us what the situation was,” Maloney said.

“We’ve had a few conversations with the manager for a few weeks and he was happy with what we were talking about and how it was situated.

“Our recruitment officer met with Liam last night (Thursday) and got the deal done, signed and sealed.”

Club president Anne Cornish said Jones’ manager got in contact with the club in late November, not long after the key defender had announced his AFL retirement.

“I reckon it was around late November he made contact with me and said Liam was moving up this way and would be interested,” Cornish said.

Maloney told News Corp that Jones was living in Burleigh Heads.

Cornish could not confirm whether Jones had been vaccinated against Covid-19 since his AFL retirement.

“I don’t know about all that. He’s a (Queensland) resident now, so I’m not sure what the rules are around vaccination and I have not had that conversation (with Jones),” she said.

“We’ll follow the rules of the government.”

Liam Jones of the Blues questions an umpire during the round 19 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Adelaide Crows at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 27, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Cornish added Jones would act in a playing and assistant coaching role, as well as working with the strength and conditioning team.

Palm Beach Currumbin already has former Collingwood forward Jack Anthony on its books, with the 51-game AFL player still weighing up his playing future.

“Jack Anthony is still registered with us … how good would it be to have Liam Jones at the back and Jack Anthony up forward,” Cornish said.

“It’s huge. One of the biggest signings in my time at the club and I’ve been here 13 years.”

Originally published as Former Carlton footballer Liam Jones signs with Gold Coast club Palm Beach Currumbin