Former Geelong ruck-forward Phoenix Foster has returned to South Australia following his Cats delisting, signing with Yorke Peninsula Football League outfit Paskeville for the 2025 season.
Foster spent two years at Kardinia Park after being drafted out of regional SA, with the Norwood product taken as the 52nd overall pick in his draft class.
The athletic and long-kicking 20-year-old wouldn't manage an AFL debut in his time with Geelong but would hold a role in the club's VFL side, playing 30 games for a return of 27 goals.
The Central Eyre United junior revealed he had struggled during "a very difficult two years" in the AFL system where he had battled with homesickness.
"Two days before the semifinal vs Southport I made the decision to tell the important people in my life that I wanted to leave Geelong and leave AFL football," Foster wrote in October last year.
"A very difficult two years, mentally, physical and emotionally made the homesickness inside only grow more and more. I can't thank the Geelong football club enough for giving me this opportunity to try and fulfill my dream, which in many ways I did."
Foster - labelled as a "massive recruit" for the local level - has now ventured to the Yorke Peninsula Football League to continue his football career, signing with Paskeville for the season ahead.
"Paskeville Football Club have signed 197cm ruck / forward Phoenix FOSTER for YPFL Season 2025, fresh from the Geelong Cats list," a YPFL post read.
"With 30 games & 30 goals in the Victorian Football League over the past two seasons, Pasky have landed a massive recruit in more ways than one."
The 2024 YPFL A Grade season saw Paskeville finish in sixth, amassing seven wins from 16 league matches. The club's coming campaign gets underway against Ardrossan on Saturday, March 29.
