Following the AFL's decision to change their vaccine mandate this week, speculation surrounding former Carlton key defender Liam Jones has intensified. Despite this, the Brisbane Lions have ruled themselves out of obtaining the 31-year-old as he attempts to resurrect his AFL career for the second time.
Having retired last year due to the AFL's mandate that all players, coaches and staff had to have had two vaccinations to play or train, Jones has instead been playing for Palm Beach Currumbin in the QAFL.
Jones, alongside former Brisbane Lion Cam Ellis-Yolmen, has now been thrown a lifeline, with both players eligible and keen to play AFL football again.
Despite having kept himself in good shape, the Lions are not keen on a player who has relocated to their backyard, according to CEO Gregg Swann.
Speaking to Sportsday, Swann confirmed that the club "haven't (talked to him)," and that they were comfortable with the players already at their disposal.
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“We’re backing our defenders in, we’ve got Harris (Andrews), Jack Payne is a young bloke who we still think is going to be good, Darcy Gardiner is back this week.
“He’s probably not for us.
“He’s a good player, I’m not bagging him, he’s a very good player.
“But for us, yeah he was at Palm Beach, but there are others that are chasing him harder than we are.”
Reports surfaced earlier this week that Jones had met with Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro amidst a potential attempt to return to the AFL.
The Bombers are not the only club to have been linked to Jones, with the Bulldogs having also been mentioned. Should the key defender return, Carlton will potentially look for compensation from the AFL.
Meanwhile, Ellis-Yolmen has started playing again in the SANFL as he also works towards a potential return.