Ex-Brisbane Lion Cam Ellis-Yolmen says he was a ‘bit shocked’ at allegations levelled against Chris Fagan

A former AFL midfielder, who will play in the Top End, has opened up on his relationship with a key figure at the centre of the Hawthorn racism allegations.

Ex-Brisbane Lion Cam Ellis-Yolmen said he was shocked by allegations his former mentor Chris Fagan was part of a coaching group at Hawthorn which pressured Indigenous players to leave their families.

At the same time, the 29-year-old said he had seen first-hand how the pressures of elite football can impact people and “make the best of us do stuff you really don’t want to do”.

A club-commissioned review revealed last week Fagan, then an assistant at Hawthorn, was part of a group which had allegedly forced Indigenous players to cut ties with family members, and demanded one player instruct his partner to have an abortion.

Fagan has “categorically” denied all allegations with the Lions also supporting its coach, who has stepped away from his duties to participate with an AFL investigation.

Former AFL player and PINT coach Shannon Motlop has called for a review at all clubs to identify and deal with festering Indigenous issues.

Ellis-Yolmen, who will be a fly-in fly-out player for Southern Districts this NTFL season, said his relationship with Fagan was “pretty good” and he “didn’t get any hints” Fagan could, allegedly, act that way.

Ellis-Yolmen, with Jarryd Lyons, quit the Brisbane Lions in early 2022. Picture: Tara Croser.

“When I heard about it I was a bit shocked,” Ellis-Yolmen said.

“I didn’t see that coming.

“I didn’t see him as that kind of person, but that’s just me going off face value.

“He seemed like a normal coach, normal guy. I didn’t get that type of vibe from him.”

However, he said he understood the pressure coaches experienced at the elite level following his time at Adelaide, which was marked by controversy.

“The pressures of ... football can make the best of us do stuff that you don’t really want to do,” he said.

“I can’t really comment too much, I was never at Hawthorn.

“They were in such a winning ... environment that those types of things can pop up, I guess.”

The Gold Coast-based Ellis-Yolmen, who is currently studying a PT course and working in a brewery, said he was keen to play as many games as possible in 2022-23 with the Crocs.

Ellis-Yolmen returned to Woodville West Torrens in the SANFL in 2022. Picture: Brenton Edwards.

It would also allow him to reconnect with friends at other clubs, including Ben Gibbeson (Palmerston), Tom Fields (Waratah) and “brother boy” Anthony Wilson (St Mary’s).

He had also played football with Crocs coach Shannon Rusca’s nephew Steve.

In fact, Ellis-Yolmen once trained with St Mary’s in 2017 during a holiday but the Crows stopped him from playing any games, as he was recovering from a knee reconstruction.

Ellis-Yolmen, who played with Labrador in the QAFL and later Woodville West Torrens in the SANFL this year after quitting the Lions in January over covid vaccine mandates, still believed he had a few years left at the elite level.

“I still feel like I can play good footy, still hungry,” he said.

“The year away, going back to local leagues, it sparked the love again.

“I’ve been going to the gym heaps, I’ve got my body right.”

The former Crow also had no regrets about his covid stance: “You make your choices and you live with them, and I’m very happy with my choice and I don’t regret anything I’ve done. I’m happy.”

How Harley Bennell became a Bomber

Former AFL star Harley Bennell’s journey to the resurgent Tiwi Bombers started to grow legs after a catch up with his “big brother” earlier this year.

Bennell, who played 88 games across three AFL clubs in a decade, after being drafted by the Gold Coast Suns in 2010 with pick two, was unveiled by the Bombers earlier this month as a star recruit for the looming NTFL season.

After being traded from the Suns in 2015, four-injury ravaged seasons with Fremantle, and his final exit from Melbourne, and ultimately the big time, in 2020, Bennell returned home.

He would play 13 games at his boyhood club Pinjarra in the Peel Football and Netball League in 2021.

This year, Bennell turned out with the Harvey Bulls in the South West Football League, and will play in a preliminary final this Sunday against South Bunbury.

Bennell played five games for Melbourne in 2020 before his big league career ended. Picture. Phil Hillyard.

After hopefully a grand final appearance next weekend, Bennell will then head north for a new footballing adventure in red and black.

It will be a big year for the Bombers, who will re-enter the competition after Covid put the brakes on the second half of last year, while fielding a Women’s Premier League team for the first time, under a new partnership with Tracy Village.

And the 29-year-old appears genuinely excited about being in the thick of a history-making season.

The former Sun said he was inspired to be a force for good at Tiwi this season, setting no specific goals other than to influence others in a positive way, especially the juniors.

“If they’re smiling, I’m smiling,” Bennell told the NT News this week.

“It’s going to be a life-changing experience. I just wanted to get up there and help the island.

“Mate, I’m pumped. I’ve never been more excited to move to the Tiwi Islands. I can’t wait.”

Bennell said living and playing in the area would be “the best thing going for me, moving forward”.

Bennell with his mum Kayleen. Picture: Supplied.

“I have some life skills and knowledge that I can pass on to the community,” he said.

“It won’t just be about footy.”

Bennell’s journey from native Western Australia to the upper reaches of the country began to grow legs after meeting up with former Suns teammate and close friend Jared Brennan, who he likens to a “big brother”.

He planted the seed for Bennell to follow in the mercurial forward’s footsteps to the Top End, where he played with Southern Districts

Discussions were then held with Tiwi’s Dean Rioli and Cyril, with the latter extremely encouraging for Bennell to bolster the Bombers’ re-entry into the league.

Bennell said the latter was in a good place and appeared happy, despite the controversies which have surrounded his former club in 2022.

“Me and Cyril have a really good relationship,” he said.

“He was like: ‘Yeah no worries, come up, let’s get going’.

“He’s good. He sounds happy.”

There are a few reasons why he picked Tiwi, other than the strong Bennell-Rioli connection.

For starters, he grew up barracking for the Bombers of the Essendon variety and he had always wanted to play in the NTFL at some point.

Tiwi Bombers were unable to play the second half of the NTFL due to Covid. Picture: Supplied.

And with a love of hunting and fishing, it was probably a no-brainer in hindsight.

However, when asked how he assessed his stop-start AFL career, two years onwards, Bennell is only looking forward, adamant he’s simply entering a new phase of his footballing trajectory.

“The journey’s still going, that’s the way I see it,” he said.

“Footy’s footy, it’s in my blood.

“Anything could be on the radar next year, who knows.”

Pushed further about any possible regrets about how his AFL career ended, Bennell only refers to his physical limitations, like the long term calf injury which kept him to just two games in four years at Fremantle, rather than any off-field issues.

“But that’s part of being a professional athlete,” he said.

“But it’s how you bounce back from those injuries. It’s who supports you that’s most important.”

Bennell celebrates during one of his final games with the Suns in August, 2015. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt.

He’s not forgotten those who had supported him during his lowest periods, with former Fremantle coach Ross Lyon at the top of the list.

“He’s my number one mentor in football, he’s had my back since day one,” he said.

“One of Ross’ favourite sayings is ‘support the player first’.

“I spoke to him yesterday, we speak on a regular basis. We check in about life, nothing to do with footy.

“He’ll bend over backwards for me.”

While obviously playing at a lower level than his AFL days, Bennell has full confidence in his body for 2022-23, expecting to play as many games he can.

“I haven’t stopped playing footy since I left AFL,” he said.

“My body’s fine, it’s amazing what happens when you don’t have to do leg weights.

“As soon as my seasons ends (with Harvey Bulls), I’ll get up there. Connect with the community as much as possible.

“I’ll do anything to help. I’ll share my experiences and help coach as well.”