Where the de-listed, retired West Aussie AFL players will line up in 2021

Twenty-two West Aussies’ AFL journeys ended after the completion of the 2020 season, some by their own choice while others were cut. Here’s where they will end up in 2021. Harley Bennell (Melbourne) Bennell’s rollercoaster three-club AFL journey came to an abrupt end after a coronavirus protocol breach in Melbourne’s Queensland hub. The former Demons, Dockers and Suns midfielder took to social media to announce his AFL retirement in September. He has since returned to WA but is yet to sign anywhere. His original WAFL club Peel Thunder have been in touch with Bennell but were unsure whether he would return there in 2021. Isaiah Butters (Fremantle) Butters, a Next Generation Academy graduate who was a Category-B rookie for one season without playing a game, will return to his original WAFL club Claremont next year. The high-flying forward won a colts premiership at the Tigers in 2019, booting four goals in the grand final before getting drafted. Jason Carter (Fremantle) Another NGA talent from the Dockers’ rich Kimberley zone, Carter will join Butters at Claremont. The 20-year-old rebounding defender featured twice at AFL level, both in the 2019 season. He parted ways with the Dockers late last season after getting told his contract wouldn’t be renewed for 2021. Cedric Cox (Brisbane) Cox is a chance to feature for the West Coast’s WAFL side after missing out on an AFL lifeline in the national and rookie drafts. The former Brisbane Lion, originally from Halls Creek in the Kimberley, requested a trade back to WA at season’s end but was overlooked by West Coast and Fremantle. The Eagles were considering him for a rookie spot but picked up Swan Districts midfielder Zane Trew and re-drafted premiership forward Daniel Venables instead. They asked the AFL to consider some form of special list exemption for concussion victim Venables, which would have opened up a spot for Cox. Cox, who played 13 games in four seasons at the Lions after getting selected with pick 24 in the 2016 national chance, is still a strong chance at getting a train-on invite at the club. Luke English (Richmond) East Fremantle’s off-season recruiting spree continued with the addition of Luke English. The former Richmond-listed midfielder will call New Choice Homes Park home next season, rather than his original WAFL club Perth. Pick 62 in the 2018 national draft, English spent two seasons on the Tigers’ list without playing a game before getting cut last month. The 2019 VFL premiership player joins fellow ex-AFL trio Hugh Dixon, Dillon O’Reilly (Fremantle) and Josh Schoenfeld (Gold Coast) and West Perth product Corey Chalmers as signings for 2021 as the Sharks look to climb the ladder after a disappointing year. Lewis Jetta (West Coast) In arguably the biggest WAFL off-season signing, dual premiership speedster Lewis Jetta has returned to his original club Swan Districts. Jetta was one of the highest-profile list cuts in the AFL at season's end when West Coast made the difficult decision to not offer him a 2021 contract. He has a wealth of experience, with 202 games and two premierships across 11 seasons with Sydney and the Eagles. He last played for Swan Districts back in 2009 before getting drafted by the Swans. Brad Lynch (Western Bulldogs) The 23-year-old was cut by the Western Bulldogs last month after nine appearances across five seasons. Lynch is yet to officially sign anywhere for 2021. He has been linked with his former WAFL club Swan Districts, where he played in a colts grand final back in 2015, but is also a chance to stay in Melbourne. Brandon Matera (Fremantle) Subiaco celebrated the end of their controversial recruiting ban, dubbed the 'Zac Clarke rule', by signing another former Docker in Brandon Matera. Matera will join his younger brother Bailey in the Lions' forward-line in 2021, rather than his original WAFL club South Fremantle. He adds much-needed experience to Subi after the recent retirements of stalwarts Kyal Horsley, Rhys Waters and Ben Newton. Matera booted 170 goals in 144 AFL appearances for the Suns (124 in 101 games) and Dockers (46 in 43). He fell out of favour at Fremantle this year before getting cut at season’s end. Jonathon Marsh (St Kilda) De-listed St Kilda utility Jonathon Marsh is set to return to WA next season with three WAFL clubs in the hunt for his prized signature. Marsh’s second stint in the AFL came to an end last month when he was cut by the Saints after 11 appearances across two seasons. The 25-year-old was in contention for a train-on spot at Carlton in the hope of securing a lifeline in the pre-season supplemental selection period. But the Blues opted for former Melbourne defender Oscar McDonald, ex-Blue/Tiger Callum Moore and Murray Bushranger Zavier Maher as part of 16 competition-wide invites. Marsh, an East Fremantle product, is in talks with his original WAFL club about returning to Shark Park in 2021. Subiaco and West Perth are also in the mix for his signature. Marsh’s brother Harry, a former Sydney Swan, already plays for the Lions. Jack Mayo (St Kilda) Young forward Jack Mayo will call Leederville Oval home once again in 2021 after his time at St Kilda came to an end. The 21-year-old will bolster Subiaco’s forward stocks alongside gun ex-Fremantle recruit Brandon Matera. Mayo spent one-and-a-half seasons on the Saints’ list after getting picked up in the 2019 mid-season rookie draft. He was unable to break through for a senior game, with a serious knee injury during a practice match in late July ruining his chances. Mayo is a colts flag-winner at the Lions, who booted 50 majors during the 2018 season. He also appeared twice at league level the following year. Cam McCarthy (Fremantle) McCarthy will call Fremantle Oval home once again after his time at the Dockers ended. The talented forward opted not to go into Fremantle's second hub after being informed he wasn't in the club's 2021 plans. The reigning WAFL premiers signed the former Docker/Giant on a two-year deal. McCarthy made 70 AFL appearances across six seasons, 21 at the Giants and the last 49 in purple, booting 99 goals. Dillon O'Reilly (Fremantle) After one-and-a-half seasons at Fremantle, Dillon O'Reilly is back home at Shark Park. The son of former Fremantle champion Stephen O'Reilly got picked up in the 2019 mid-season draft but was unable to crack a senior game. He will strengthen the Sharks' big man stocks and add versatility with the ability to play as a key forward or defender. He is one of several exciting ex-AFL signings at East Fremantle alongside Luke English (Richmond), Hugh Dixon (Fremantle) and Josh Schoenfeld (Gold Coast). Matthew Parker (St Kilda) Former St Kilda forward Matthew Parkeris another big addition for South Fremantle in 2021. Parker will return to his former WAFL club after two seasons in the AFL, making 19 appearances including 17 in his debut year in 2019. The 24-year-old booted 39 majors in 27 appearances during his first stints at the Bulldogs before getitng snapped up with pick 49 in the 2018 national draft. Jake Patmore (Port Adelaide) Former Port Adelaide rookie Jake Patmore has returned to Claremont after his three-season stint at Alberton came to an end. The 21-year-old had a fair amount of bad luck including a ruptured ACL and a season without reserves football. Port Adelaide general manager of football Chris Davies described Patmore as a “victim of circumstances” after a COVID-affected year. He was unable to break into the Power’s senior side for an AFL debut. Jarvis Pina (Fremantle) Pina was another Docker who chose to go back to their original WAFL club. The 20-year-old was only on Fremantle's rookie list for one season and didn't feature at AFL level. The South Mandurah product is back at Peel Thunder, where he captained the club's colts grand final side in 2019 before getting drafted. He has already played several senior matches for the Thunder as a small defender. Nic Reid (West Coast) Nic Reid's amateurs-to-AFL-debut journey was one of the feel-good stories of the year. The North Beach product played three consecutive AFL games after making his debut in West Coast’s win over Hawthorn at Optus Stadium. The West Australian understands Reid is unlikely to return to the Eagles’ WAFL side, where he made a name for himself in 2019 before earning a spot on the club’s AFL rookie list. His most likely home is North Beach in the Perth Football League's top flight, with his first WAFL club Claremont also interested. Josh Schoenfeld (Gold Coast) Gold Coast running machine Josh Schoenfeld has made an instant impression at East Fremantle, winning the club’s first 2km time trial. The Peel Thunder product returns to the WAFL after 15 games in five seasons at the Suns, inking a two-year deal. The 23-year-old made the last of his AFL appearances in round 11, 2019. He links up with former State under-18s teammates Luke Strnadica, Tom Bennett and Jordan Snadden at Shark Park. Ben Stratton (Hawthorn) The retired Hawthorn captain and triple premiership player is believed to be in talks to head back to the Hawks - Augusta-Margaret River Hawks. Yes, the defender is likely to head back to where it all started, with the club interested in having Stratton return as a playing-assistant coach after 202 AFL games. Stratton has recently moved back down south, calling Dunsborough home, and recently married his partner Laura, as well as announcing they’re expecting a little girl. Elijah Taylor (Sydney) The new-look VFL competition is firming as Elijah Taylor’s likely destination in 2021 as the troubled former Sydney forward looks to re-start his stalled footy career. The West Australian understand Taylor is poised to play for the St Kilda’s VFL affiliate Sandringham in the re-branded 22-team ‘VFL and East Coast Second-Tier Competition’. The Perth Demons product was cut by the Swans last month after one season on their list and one year remaining on his initial two-year contract, with the club deciding the talented youngster’s actions “could not be reconciled”. Taylor was stood down by the club in September amid pleading guilty to the aggravated assault of his ex-partner. Harry Taylor (Geelong) The retired two-time Geelong premiership defender has long spoken about wanting to return to his home club of Northampton once his AFL career is done. The West Australian understands the Rams are hopeful of Taylor taking a role at the club in 2021 and right now they’re even without a coach, but no official approach has been made. Taylor’s close friend and former juniors teammate Josh Kennedy is likely in his final year at West Coast, giving the Rams a potentially exciting one-two punch in 2022. The 34-year-old is also in discussions with his former WAFL club East Fremantle about a potential playing-assistant coach role, as revealed by coach Bill Monaghan on SportFM recently. Anthony Treacy (West Coast) Treacy is back at Tigerland is a good get for last season's grand finalists as they aim to go one better in 2021. The livewire forward was picked up by West Coast during last year's rookie draft after a brilliant season at Claremont. He was unable to break into the Eagles' star-studded forward-line other than a pre-season match. Francis Watson (West Coast) Like Treacy, fellow Kimberley product Francis Watson is back at Claremont. The exciting defender had a horror 2020 which included a season-ending knee injury before getting cut. He played two games for the Eagles, both in 2019, and showed plenty. Watson was a victim of the AFL's reduction in list sizes. The 25-year-old is unlikely to play until about mid-season as he works his way back from his ACL rupture. Marley Williams (North Melbourne) After playing 60 games for North Melbourne following a 68-game stint at Collingwood, Williams was one of 11 players cut by the club post-season. The Claremont and North Albany product has opted to remain in Victoria, rather than return to his home State of WA. He will play for Port Melbourne Colts in the Southern Football League.