AFL delistings: Ethan Phillips opens up on Hawthorn exit, interest from rival clubs

Ethan Phillips went into the last half-hour of trade period with his AFL future in the balance. He opens up about his exit from Hawthorn and chances of landing at a second AFL club.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 23: Ethan Phillips of the Hawks in action during the AFL 2024 Match Simulation between the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn at Whitten Oval on February 23, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Spare a thought for Ethan Phillips.

As the clock ticked toward the 7.30pm deadline on the last day of the Trade Period, the former Hawthorn defender’s future hung in the balance.

The 25-year-old supplementary signing had been told his future in brown and gold would come down to whether the club’s pursuit of West Coast backman Tom Barrass came to fruition.

News filtered through just after 7pm that the Barrass deal had been done for a suite of future first-round picks and that Phillips’ time as a Hawk was over.

Ethan Phillips impressed in his only AFL game for Hawthorn. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“The discussions were pretty open with Hawthorn’s list manager Mark McKenzie throughout the year because all our key defenders were contracted and obviously we were after Barrass,” Phillips said.

“In my exit interview it was basically saying that if Barrass comes, then I’m out, but if we can’t get the trade done then I’ve got another year there.

“I was at home with my housemate, my best mate, we just making dinner. I was cooking and he was just constantly refreshing the app — we weren’t sure if (the trade) was going to go through.

“Then I think six trades went through in the last five minutes, it all happened really.”

A winner of the VFL’s Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal, Phillips featured once during his only season on the Hawks’ senior list.

He recorded a game-high eight intercepts and 10 disposals as Hawthorn was sunk by a last-gasp Darcy Byrne-Jones matchwinner.

“I think I have proven to myself that I’m more than comfortable at the level with how I played in that game,” he said.

“Hopefully get an opportunity elsewhere because I think I’ve definitely got a lot more AFL football left in me.”

Obviously not the result we wanted but how good was Ethan Phillips on debut?!

We chat to him after his 10 disposals, game-high eight intercept possessions and three marks 🤝 pic.twitter.com/kcjSu98hl2

— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) May 20, 2024

Phillips has been working with former AFL player and sprint coach Joel Wilkinson — and alongside Collingwood star Isaac Quaynor — in a bid to ensure he’s ready if another opportunity at the top level arises.

“He’s helped me improve my pace which has been one of the knocks throughout my footy career so far,” Phillips said.

Carlton, St Kilda and West Coast are among the clubs searching for key defensive reinforcements this off-season.

“We’ve just put the feelers out at the moment and I’ve had a chat with a couple of clubs,” the 197cm defender told SEN.

“There’s a little bit of interest there at the moment. Hopefully over the next few weeks we can just progress those discussions and hopefully a club will give me an opportunity.”

Meanwhile, North Melbourne announced on Wednesday that Charlie Lazzaro and Blake Drury had been delisted.

LIONS CUT DEFENDER AFTER 39 AFL GAMES

— Callum Dick

Brisbane running defender Jaxon Prior has not been offered a contract for next season.

The 23 year old’s future was in limbo while the club waited for the AFL trade period to play out before making a final decision on his contract status.

But after managing just four AFL games in 2024, the No. 59 pick from the 2019 draft has been told to look for an opportunity elsewhere.

“Jaxon showed encouraging development since being drafted and played a role in our success at AFL and VFL level,” Brisbane football boss Danny Daly said.

“He played strong patches of football this season, however, given the cutthroat nature of professional sport we need to make tough decisions with list spots.

“We would like to thank Jaxon, his partner Bronte and his family for their contribution to the Brisbane Lions for the past five seasons.”

Jaxon Prior has been delisted after playing 39 games with Brisbane.

Meanwhile, key defender Darragh Joyce and 2023 mid-season rookie draftee Darcy Craven have been told they will be relisted in the rookie draft next month.

Prior played 39 games over five seasons with the Lions. He featured 18 times in 2021 but since then has struggled to break into Brisbane’s best-23.

The 189cm defender now joins a bloated pool of players looking for a new home ahead of the Delisted Free Agency period which runs from November 1 to November 8.

Before the trade period opened it was reported that Essendon held some interest in the West Australian as a potential replacement for the retired Dyson Heppell, should Brisbane not renew his contract.

“It’s probably not the year unfortunately for players to be out of contract because everyone’s talking how high the draft is going to be this year with talent,” Prior’s manager Colin Young said earlier this month.

“It’s unfortunate that Jaxon is out of contract at the moment … if it doesn’t happen he’ll probably go into free agency.”

Prior averaged 24 disposals, seven rebound-50s, seven marks and 105 ranking points in the VFL this year.

Welcome to the big time Jaxon Prior 🙌#AFLLionsDonspic.twitter.com/KOlnv809wJ

— AFL (@AFL) April 17, 2021

The Lions are expected to sign delisted Gold Coast Suns key forward Sam Day next month as a cheap replacement for Joe Daniher, who shocked the AFL world by announcing his retirement following the club’s premiership triumph.

Day, 32, would link with his former Suns head coach Stuart Dew at the Lions next season after Dew was named to replace outgoing assistant Murray Davis as the forward line coach in 2025.

Day has struggled with injury throughout his career but if the Lions’ medical staff can get him fully fit – as they did with Daniher after his swap from Essendon – the ex-Sun could help soften the blow of Daniher’s exit, playing a similar ruck-forward role.

Originally published as AFL delistings: Ethan Phillips opens up on Hawthorn exit, interest from rival clubs