Brandon Ellis plays game 250 in round 2 against the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat

Brandon Ellis left Richmond with two flags, then the Tigers went and won a third. Damien Hardwick helps reflect on the now very happy Sun’s career ahead of game 250.

Brandon Ellis of the Suns in action. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

When Brandon Ellis left Richmond at the end of 2019 to join the Gold Coast Suns, he thought his time under Damien Hardwick had come to an end.

Instead, four years later, Hardwick followed his former protégée’s lead and moved north, linking player and coach together once again.

Thus the man who handed Ellis his AFL debut will also oversee his milestone 250th AFL appearance on Sunday when the Suns stare down the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat.

“He coached my first game, he’ll coach my 250th and I guess he’ll coach my last game whenever that is,” laughed Ellis.

“It’s just funny how the universe works sometimes.”

Brandon Ellis and Damien Hardwick at Richmond in 2015. Picture: Hamish Blair

Ellis, 30, played a key role in the 2017 and 2019 premierships under Hardwick at Richmond before moving to the Suns in free agency ahead of the 2020 season.

His familiarity with Hardwick’s system has been hugely beneficial for him and his teammates as they adapt to a new game plan under the triple premiership-winning coach.

That game plan has so far worked a treat, with the Suns enjoying a 2-0 start to the season for the first time since 2018.

Ellis has carved out a starting spot on the wing opposite Brayden Fiorini, in what is one of the most important positions in Hardwick’s system.

“He’s one of my favourites,” the Suns coach said of Ellis.

“I’ve known him for a long period of time. His story is a great one … some of the adversity he’s faced and obviously moving through free agency to come up here.

“To come full circle, to both be joined at the hip again is a great story.

“He’s been an incredible servant for me for a long period of time and obviously the Gold Coast Suns as well. Hopefully we can back it up with a win versus the Bulldogs this week because he’s a really important player to the fabric of our club.”

Hardwick is enjoying coaching Ellis again. Picture: Getty Images

Ellis, a Calder Cannons product, said playing his milestone match in Victoria meant a flood of friends and family were likely to descend on Ballarat to help celebrate his 250th.

As many as 50 people will make the trip down the highway for Sunday’s clash, though many will have to source their own tickets given the high demand.

“It helps the game is in Victoria because I’m from Melbourne, so a lot of people are going to make the trip up which will be nice,” he said.

“It’s a pretty cool milestone and I’m very excited, but I have a job to do first and I just want to get the win.”

The Bulldogs are reeling after being thumped by Melbourne last weekend, while the Suns have enjoyed a scintillating start to the season under Hardwick.

A win in Ballarat would see the Suns move to 3-0 for just the second time in their history.

Ellis, who is off-contract at the end of the season, sees a near future in which the club is finally contending in September and is eager to play a key role in that for as long as possible.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he declared.

Ellis is content on the Gold Coast. Picture: Getty Images

“I love this footy club. They took a risk on me five years ago to bring me up here and I thank them a lot for that.

“I still feel pretty young, I feel I have a few good years ahead of me. I guess we’ll work that out in the coming months.

“Yeah it was hard, winning every week (at Richmond) and then coming up here not knowing what was going to happen. It’s been a great journey the last four years. You can see the growth from when I first got here to now.

“I started with (Ben) King, (Jack) Lukosius, (Matt) Rowell, (Noah) Anderson – (now) they’re all approaching 100 games, so I think we’re really in that window now to give finals a real nudge.”

Originally published as Brandon Ellis plays game 250 in round 2 against the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat