Where are they now? 2025 plans for recently delisted and retired AFL players

There’s always two sides to the story during the flurry of post-season AFL list changes.

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In late November, across the national and rookie drafts, just over 90 footballers for the first time won themselves spots on AFL clubs lists for the 2024 season.

But in order for the influx of fresh faces to realise their AFL dreams, many already in the system had to make way.

It means that just over 120 men that were full-time footballers in 2024 won’t have the same title in 2025, after they either announced their retirement or were delisted by their respective clubs.

So foxfooty.com.au has compiled its annual list of where the recently-departed AFL players are set to play footy this year, as well as discovered some of their work plans.

Some players could still find themselves on an AFL list before Opening Round via the pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP), which closes on February 21.

Three of them are training at Carlton — ex-Hawk Denver Grainger-Barras, as well as recently delisted Blues Matt Carroll and Sam Durdin — while two are at West Coast — ex-Sun Sandy Brock and former Saint James Van Es, with the latter only linking up with the Eagles in recent days.

Ex-Sun Hewago Paul Oea was hopeful of an SSP lifeline at Gold Coast after being invited to train under coach Damien Hardwick again following his delisting. But foxfooty.com.au understands those hopes ended in recent weeks, leading to Oea signing with VFL club Southport last week.

The majority of recently delisted/retired players will be lining up for a state league team this year.

Port Melbourne has been one of the most active teams in the recruiting space, headlined by the signing of former Essendon captain and All-Australian Dyson Heppell as a playing assistant coach. Joining Heppell at the Borough is Tex Wanganeen (ex-Essendon), Charlie Lazzaro (ex-North Melbourne) and Domenic Bedendo (ex-Western Bulldogs), while Van Es could join them too should his Eagles SSP bid not come to fruition. It comes a year after the Borough went on another signing spree, picking up seven ex-AFL players from the 2023 retired/delisted class.

Carlton’s VFL team has also been boosted by the inclusions of former Power forward Francis Evans, as well as ex-Hawk Ethan Phillips, ex-Giant Cooper Hamilton and ex-Swan Cooper Vickery. Elsewhere, foxfooty.com.au understands former Blue David Cuningham has been linked with Footscray.

In the SANFL, North Adelaide has acquired Oskar Faulkhead (ex-Gold Coast Suns), as well as returning duo James Willis (ex-Geelong) and Kelsey Rypstra (ex-Western Bulldogs), while Glenelg pulled off a monster win by signing former Lions ball magnet Jarryd Lyons.

South Fremantle and East Perth have attracted several recent AFL players back to the WAFL. The Bulldogs have signed Ethan Hughes (ex-Fremantle), Hamish Free (ex-North Melbourne) and Jamaine Jones (ex-West Coast), while former Eagles duo Coby Burgiel and Jordyn Baker, as well as Sebit Kuek (ex-Fremantle) and Cooper Stephens (ex-Hawthorn), have all joined the Royals.

There’s also a great splattering of players heading to local footy, with the Eastern Football Netball League big winners.

Former top-10 AFL picks Josh Schache (Doncaster East) and Sam Weideman (Vermont), as well as triple premiership Hawk Liam Shiels (South Croydon), will all be in the same premier division, while former Saint Brad Crouch will be an assistant coach at Noble Park. Also heading east is former Kangaroo Jaidyn Stephenson, who signed as a playing assistant coach for Division 3 club Ferntree Gully Eagles, and ex-Magpie Aiden Begg (North Ringwood).

There’ll also be plenty of eyes on the Geelong Football Netball League this year. Ex-Saint Seb Ross has signed as a playing co-coach with Colac, while former Docker Josh Corbett (South Barwon) and Oscar Murdoch (Newtown & Chilwell) will also feature in the Geelong league.

Other big local footy signings include premiership Cats Gary Rohan (Port Fairy) and Zach Tuohy (Bacchus Marsh), premiership Bulldog Lachie Hunter (Spotswood), ex-Bulldog Alex Keath (East Brighton), former Sun Levi Casboult (Palm Beach Currumbin), ex-Giant Braydon Preuss (Yarragon) and former Eagle Alex Witherden (Sydney University).

Former Adelaide player Ned McHenry — who’s an emerging media star with his Sharks Tales brand — has also been appointed as a playing coach at Prince Alfred Old Collegians at the age of 24.

“Ned made a standout presentation to the subcommittee only 10 days ago, and from that point on, we knew we had found our next A-grade coach,” club football director Jim Parkinson said in a statement in November.

“Ned will bring a successful, professional, organised, yet straightforward philosophy to the club that only a quality person who has spent six years in the high-pressure, professional AFL system could do.”

There are several members of the 2024 playing departures class remaining at AFL club land in an off-field capacity.

Ex-Giant Adam Kennedy and ex-Roo Hugh Greenwood are now development coaches at the Sydney Swans and Gold Coast Suns respectively, while former Tiger Sam Naismith has a dual ruck/development coach role at Fremantle. Shiels has already joined North Melbourne’s recruiting team.

Delisted Sun James Tsitas will remain with Gold Coast in a wide-ranging role. While he’ll play for the Suns’ VFL team, he’ll also be a tackling coach and work in both the Academy and strength and conditioning set-ups.

Premiership Demon Ben Brown is keen to continue with Melbourne’s AFLW coaching panel, while also pursuing a range of passions outside of footy.

Some are venturing into the media, including Geelong legend Tom Hawkins joining Fox Footy — on top of working for Nutrien Ag Solutions in the livestock division. Adelaide great Rory Sloane (Nine Network) and former Hawk Chad Wingard (AFL Media) will also get a taste of life as a pundit.

But former Demon Kyah Farris-White looks to be getting away from footy — and back into hoops.

After two seasons as a Category B rookie with the Demons, Farris-White was delisted at the end of 2024.

The 206cm athlete dropped his basketball pursuit in order to give AFL life a crack.

But Farris-White appears to have wasted little time getting back into basketball since leaving the Dees, sharing workout videos and images from his Instagram account back in October.

While former Bulldog Aiden O’Driscoll, who heartbreakingly was forced into medical retirement in May due to concussion, still loves the game, he’s giving athletics a red-hot crack.

“Athletics is a big one for me at the moment,” O’Driscoll told the Bray and Ethan podcast last month.

“Hopefully I’ll keep training at that. I’m doing it every Wednesday from now on at the athletics stadium.

“I got someone that contacted me from Freo that used to work with my brother (Nathan). He’s been really good support and reckons he’ll get me in a good squad.”

After calling time on his 14-year AFL career, Trent McKenzie last year declared on SEN SA he was keen to chase an NFL punting dream.

And as for Dusty?

Despite ample post-Richmond life speculation he could reunite with Damien Hardwick at Gold Coast, Dustin Martin’s AFL playing days are done. And considering his Instagram account @dustinlmartin appears to have been deleted, Martin unsurprisingly is keen on a quiet post-footy life.

Whether he bobs up for a local footy cameo remains unlikely — although K-Rock Football guru Tom King suggested on X last month the speculation of Martin playing a few games alongside ex-Tiger Sam Lloyd for Geelong Amateur “won’t subside” — but it would bring a massive crowd.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

This is the class of 2024 delisted/retired players and what they’re doing in 2025 (Note: Not every player has locked in a club for the season or even decided if they want to play).

Have an update on a player? Email ben.waterworth@news.com.au or tweet @bjwaterworth.

ADELAIDE

Lachlan Gollant (delisted) – Williamstown (VFL)

Will Hamill (delisted) – Frankston (VFL)

Ned McHenry (delisted) – Playing Coach at Prince Alfred Old Collegians (Adelaide Footy League)

Patrick Parnell (delisted) – Glenelg (SANFL)

Rory Sloane (retired) – Joining the footy media with TV roles at Channel 9 and radio commentary with 3AW. He did flag after retiring last year he had some interest in the coaching industry.

BRISBANE LIONS

Joe Daniher (retired) – TBC, with no plans to play anywhere in 2025 at this stage.

Kalin Lane (delisted) – Claremont (WAFL)

Jarryd Lyons (retired) – Glenelg (SANFL)

James Madden (delisted) – Returned to Ireland in October, with the Lions wishing him all the best for his “pursuits in Gaelic footy”.

Carter Michael (delisted) – Williamstown (VFL)

CARLTON

Dominic Akuei (delisted) – Essendon (VFL) and St Mary’s (Northern FNL)

Matt Carroll (delisted) — TBC, but has been invited to train with Carlton (AFL) in the hope of winning a lifeline via the SSP.

David Cuningham (delisted) – TBC, but has been linked to Footscray (VFL).

Sam Durdin (delisted) — TBC, but has been invited to train with Carlton (AFL) in the hope of winning a lifeline via the SSP.

Caleb Marchbank (delisted) – TBC

Alex Mirkov (delisted) – TBC, but has a growing clothing brand Utopia.

COLLINGWOOD

Aiden Begg (delisted) – North Ringwood (Eastern FNL)

Jack Bytel (delisted) – Coburg (VFL) and Greenvale (Essendon District FL)

Josh Carmichael (retired) – TBC after retiring due to concussion.

Josh Eyre (delisted) – Castlemaine (Bendigo FNL)

Nathan Kreuger (delisted) – Geelong (VFL)

Nathan Murphy (retired) – Set to return to Collingwood (AFL) in an off-field role, likely in development, once he receives the medical all-clear.

ESSENDON

Kaine Baldwin (delisted) — TBC, but has been invited to train with Essendon (AFL) in the hope of winning a lifeline via the SSP.

Jayden Davey (delisted) – Palmerston Magpies (NTFL)

Dyson Heppell (retired) – Playing assistant coach and community ambassador at Port Melbourne (VFL). Also launched a clothing branch ‘Haych the Label’ with Harrison Pennicott.

Nick Hind (delisted) – Darley (Ballarat FNL)

Jaiden Hunter (delisted) – Claremont (WAFL)

Jake Kelly (retired) – Told the Herald Sun in October he wanted to travel the world in 2025 and “get into the business world” – in wealth management and/or the banking sector – after calling time on his AFL career due to concussion.

Tex Wanganeen (delisted) – Port Melbourne (VFL)

Sam Weideman (delisted) – Vermont (Eastern FNL)

FREMANTLE

Josh Corbett (retired) – South Barwon (Geelong FNL)

Tom Emmett (delisted) – Sturt (SANFL)

Ethan Hughes (delisted) – South Fremantle (WAFL)

Sebit Kuek (delisted) – East Perth (WAFL)

Ethan Stanley (delisted) – Box Hill Hawks (VFL)

Matthew Taberner (delisted) – TBC. Had been linked to South Fremantle (WAFL), but industry sources wouldn’t be surprised if he had a year away from footy.

Conrad Williams (delisted) – Perth (WAFL)

GEELONG CATS

Phoenix Foster (delisted) – TBC, but has returned to South Australia and has a part-time role with Immanuel College.

Joe Furphy (delisted) – Coburg (VFL)

Mitch Hardie (delisted) – Casey Demons (VFL)

Tom Hawkins (retired) – Has joined the Fox Footy commentary team, as well as Nutrien Ag Solutions in the livestock division. There are plans for a local footy cameo or two, with appearances at Finley (Murray FL) and Old Melburnians (VAFA) on the cards.

Emerson Jeka (delisted) – Altona (Western Region FL)

Oscar Murdoch (delisted) – Newtown & Chillwell (Geelong FNL)

Brandan Parfitt (delisted) – Perth (WAFL)

Gary Rohan (delisted) – Port Fairy (Hampden FNL)

Zach Tuohy (retired) – Bacchus Marsh (Ballarat FNL)

James Willis (delisted) – North Adelaide (SANFL)

GOLD COAST SUNS

Sandy Brock (delisted) – TBC, but has been invited to train with West Coast (AFL) in the hope of winning a lifeline via the SSP.

Levi Casboult (retired) – Playing Assistant Coach at Palm Beach Currumbin (QAFL)

Brandon Ellis (retired) – Pursuing a career in the fitness and health industry on the Gold Coast. He already owns reformer pilates chain ‘Your Daily’.

Oskar Faulkhead (delisted) – North Adelaide (SANFL)

Darcy Macpherson (delisted) – North Melbourne (VFL)

Jack Mahony (delisted) – St Kevin’s (VAFA)

Hewago Paul Oea (delisted) — Southport (VFL)

Will Rowlands (delisted) – Norwood (SANFL)

James Tsitas (delisted) – Remaining with the Gold Coast Suns (AFL) in a wide-ranging role. He’ll play for their VFL team, while he’ll also be a tackling coach and work in both the Academy and strength and conditioning areas.

GWS GIANTS

Cooper Hamilton (delisted) – Carlton (VFL) and Rochester (Goulburn Valley FNL)

Adam Kennedy (retired) – Development Coach at Sydney Swans (AFL)

Brayden Preuss (delisted) – Yarragon (Ellinbank & District FNL)

HAWTHORN

Josh Bennetts (delisted) – Collingwood (VFL)

Denver Grainger-Barras (delisted) — TBC, but has been invited to train with Carlton (AFL) in the hope of winning a lifeline via the SSP.

Cooper Stephens (delisted) – East Perth (WAFL)

Jack O’Sullivan (delisted) – TBC

Ethan Phillips (delisted) – Carlton (VFL)

Clay Tucker (delisted) – TBC, but has started up a digital solutions agency, Tukk Media.

Chad Wingard (retired) – Indigenous and Social Policy Officer (AFL) plus footy media commitments.

MELBOURNE

Angus Brayshaw (retired) – Had worked in a part-time capacity with Melbourne’s coaching staff in 2024, including a matchday role from the interchange bench.

Ben Brown (retired) – Development and Talls Coach at Melbourne (AFLW) and keen to remain in the AFLW space. Also a good chance to dabble in footy media, while he’s also passionate to continue to raise awareness around stopping gender-based violence. Castlemaine coach Michael Hartley cheekily reached out to him about playing last year.

Kyah Farris-White (delisted) – TBC, but looks to be giving a basketball career a crack.

Lachie Hunter (retired) – Spotswood (Western Region FL)

Josh Schache (delisted) – Doncaster East (Eastern FNL)

Joel Smith (delisted) — Banned from participating in any sports that have adopted a World Anti-Doping Code compliant anti-doping policy until 9 January 2028.

Adam Tomlinson (delisted) – TBC, but told SEN in October he would love to remain in the footy industry, with a particular passion for the “management and operations side” of the business.

NORTH MELBOURNE

Blake Drury (delisted) – Adelaide Crows (SANFL)

Hamish Free (delisted) – South Fremantle (WAFL)

Hugh Greenwood (retired) – Development Coach at Gold Coast Suns (AFL)

Charlie Lazzaro (delisted) – Port Melbourne (VFL)

Bigoa Nyuon (delisted) – Ballarat Swans (Ballarat FNL)

Tyler Sellers (delisted) – Essendon (VFL)

Liam Shiels (retired) – Remaining at North Melbourne as its national talent scout. Will also play for South Croydon (Eastern FNL)

Jaidyn Stephenson (retired) – Playing Assistant Coach at Ferntree Gully Eagles (Eastern FNL)

Curtis Taylor (delisted) – Collingwood (VFL)

Tarryn Thomas (delisted) – TBC, but during a court appearance in November last year, his lawyer said Thomas had a “desire to return to professional football in the future”.

PORT ADELAIDE

Tom Clurey (delisted) – Katamatite (Picola and District FNL) and Southern Districts (NTFL)

Charlie Dixon (retired) – Seems destined for a career in the media – but not necessarily in footy. A man who loves his cars, his Drivin’ With Dixon brand is gathering steam.

Francis Evans (delisted) – Carlton (VFL)

Kyle Marshall (delisted) – Port Adelaide (SANFL)

Tom McCallum (delisted) – Norwood (SANFL)

Trent McKenzie (retired) – Having a crack at an NFL punting career.

Tom Scully (delisted) – West Adelaide (SANFL)

RICHMOND

Matthew Coulthard (delisted) – TBC

Noah Cumberland (delisted) – Maroochydore (QAFL)

Dylan Grimes (retired) – Looking forward to spending more time with family in retirement and building his business, the Mount Macedon Winery.

Dustin Martin (retired) – TBC. Will likely remain a man of mystery in retirement as well … although this photo raised some eyebrows.

Sam Naismith (retired) – Ruck and Development Coach at Fremantle (AFL)

Marlion Pickett (retired) – Melton South (Riddell District FNL) and Tiwi Bombers (NTFL)

ST KILDA

Matthew Allison (delisted) – Coburg (VFL)

Riley Bonner (delisted) – Casey Demons (VFL)

Brad Crouch (retired) – Senior Assistant Coach at Noble Park (Eastern FNL)

Jack Hayes (delisted) – Woodville-West Torrens (SANFL)

Olli Hotton (delisted) – North Melbourne (VFL)

Seb Ross (delisted) – Playing Co-Coach at Colac (Geelong FNL)

James Van Es (delisted) – TBC, but has been invited to train with West Coast (AFL) in the hope of winning a lifeline via the SSP. If not, he signed with Port Melbourne (VFL) in November.

SYDNEY SWANS

Harry Arnold (delisted) – Brisbane Lions (VFL) and Morningside (QAFL)

Jaiden Magor (delisted) – South Adelaide (SANFL)

Lachlan McAndrew (delisted) – Adelaide Crows (SANFL)

Sam Reid (retired) – TBC

Cooper Vickery (delisted) – Carlton (VFL)

WEST COAST EAGLES

Jordyn Baker (delisted) – East Perth (WAFL)

Coby Burgiel (delisted) – East Perth (WAFL)

Jai Culley (delisted) – Casey Demons (VFL)

Luke Edwards (delisted) – TBC after stepping away from footy to concentrate on his health and wellbeing.

Andrew Gaff (retired) – TBC

Jamaine Jones (delisted) – South Fremantle (WAFL)

Josh Rotham (delisted) – West Perth (WAFL)

Zane Trew (delisted) – Swan Districts (WAFL)

Alex Witherden (delisted) – Sydney University (AFL Sydney)

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Dominic Bedendo (delisted) – Port Melbourne (VFL)

Charlie Clarke (delisted) — TBC

Alex Keath (retired) – East Brighton (Southern FNL)

Aiden O’Driscoll (retired) – Assistant coach at Perth colts (WAFL) and is eyeing off a career in athletics.

Kelsey Rypstra (delisted) – North Adelaide (SANFL)