EX-LION JOINS LABRADOR TIGERS RANKS FOR QAFL
FORMER Brisbane Lions player Cam Ellis-yolmen stands by his decision to walk away from the AFL on the back of the league’s vaccine mandates but hopes the door may open again for a return to the elite level one day.
Speaking publicly for the first time since leaving Brisbane last month, Ellis-yolmen detailed the reasons behind the decision, the sleepless nights he had in the lead-up to the AFL’S deadline to meet Covid protocols and why he has no regrets about his choice.
It comes as he prepares to play for Labrador in the QAFL.
“It was pretty tough. I have stood strong against it for a while,” Ellis-yolmen said.
“The club has always known and it came down to putting my health first. I didn’t think I needed (the vaccine). I have never taken the flu jab. The Lions were very supportive of my decision.
“They didn’t try to persuade me and were always respectful about what I thought and what choice I was going to make.
“Ultimately it came down to putting my health first.
“To be honest I never thought it would come down to having to make a choice between getting the vaccine and walking away.
“It is sad that a few boys and myself have had to make that type of decision, especially on our own health.
“I was happy to do whatever we had to do for the last two years to play AFL when it came to quarantining and staying away from the public.”
The 29-year-old, who played 48 AFL games between stints at Adelaide Crows and Brisbane Lions and had a contract in place with the Lions for 2022, opened up about the emotions he felt in the days leading into the deadline.
“I didn’t sleep for the two nights prior,” he said.
“My mind just kept ticking over and in one ear you are just like ‘take it and be fine and go against what you believe’ but you couldn’t pay me any money in the world to get it. Once you take money away from it, the decision was made.
“I knew I’d be fine outside of footy. I have had a lot of support around me and that made my decision so much easier. I’m very happy with the decision and I still stand by it. I don’t regret it.”
Ellis-yolmen said he still had a deep hunger to play at the highest level and hoped one day mandates would change and he could feature in the AFL again.
“Absolutely. I did over half of the AFL pre-season and I am fit and firing to go,” Ellis-yolmen said.
“The hunger is still there and I want to play good footy at Labrador. I am naturally competitive, I have always been like that. I still want to be that competitive player that I was at AFL level and hopefully I can bring some of those standards to Labrador and help elevate my teammates.”
Ellis-yolmen connected with Labrador at the end of January after speaking to Tigers recruit Andrew Boston, a former Southport Sharks VFL player who played against Ellis-yolmen last year.
He will likely play midfield and forward for the Tigers and said Labrador had enabled him to make a smooth transition from the AFL to QAFL.
“I really didn’t want to leave Queensland because I love it here,” he said.
“Everyone at the club have been very welcoming. The boys are firing through the colts and different grades. They are fighting for spots and there has been some good competition.”