Brandon Ellis Biography

Brandon Ellis announces his immediate retirement, while Damien Hardick, his coach at Richmond and now Gold Coast, reflects on his Ellis' career.

"He's played in two premierships, 251 games, got a lot of businesses … he is the poster boy for what sport can do, and more importantly with hard work and dedication, the type of man you can become," Hardwick said of Ellis.

After four years apart, Brandon Ellis says he is benefiting from being back under Gold Coast head coach Damien Hardwick's mentorship at the Suns.

"I was a bit stale last year. I probably had my toughest year, mentally and physically. Getting Dimma back and making the place a fun environment again has rejuvenated me," Ellis said.

Ahead of his 200th game, Brandon Ellis reveals why he left the Tigers and his main hesitation in moving to Gold Coast.

"The hardest part was trying to convince my partner, now my fiancée, Sarah, because her life and her family was all set up in Melbourne. If she was moving it would be because of me," Ellis said.

"We played Brisbane in that qualifying final and we won. I remember the weather being amazing and it made my decision easy. I spoke to Sarah and she said: 'Look, five-year deal, let's do it'. 'Let's make the most of your career while you can.' We haven't looked back since."

Brandon Ellis joins Gold Coast as a free agent after Richmond officially chose not to match the Suns' five-year deal.

The Tigers will receive a second-round compensation pick (currently No.39) for Ellis.

"Brandon has proven his ability at AFL level over the past eight seasons and we're excited by the opportunity to add a dual premiership player to our midfield group," Gold Coast head of recruiting Craig Cameron said.

"In line with our strategy, we're keen to target players who will complement our young group and are committed to help drive our club forward. Brandon fits that perfectly."

Brandon Ellis officially informs Richmond of his wish to explore his options as a free agent.

Ellis, 26, is a restricted free agent and is expected to join Gold Coast on a five-year deal worth more than $550,000 a season.

His Richmond teammates entered the 2019 Grand Final knowing it was Ellis' final game in yellow and black.

"Brandon has been an outstanding contributor to our team and our Club for a long period of time, and we respect his rights as a Free Agent," Richmond list manager Blair Hartley said.

"Brandon and the Club have been in constant communication throughout the season, and we would like to acknowledge the way he has conducted himself throughout the year. As always, Brandon has put the team first, and he is now a dual premiership player for Richmond."

Despite courting Tiger Brandon Ellis for much of the 2019 season, the Blues withdraw their interest in the premiership wingman to focus on a pursuit of other trade targets.

Gold Coast reportedly has strong interest in Ellis' senior experience, with other rivals now closely monitoring his intentions after previously anticipating he was due to land at the Blues.

As a top-10 earner at the Tigers this season, Ellis is a restricted free agent.

Brandon Ellis has parked contract negotiations as he prepares to explore his free agency options.

A restricted free agent at season's end, Ellis has received interest from Victorian clubs including Carlton, North Melbourne and Essendon with others outside Melbourne monitoring his situation.

Brandon Ellis is left out of Richmond's qualifying final side against Hawthorn.

"We probably didn't need his skillset tonight and we went a different way," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said after the Tigers' 31-point victory at the MCG.

"He's such a valuable player for us, so it was really tough leaving him out. Obviously, it was upsetting for him and it was upsetting for me.

"I love the kid and the way he plays."

Brandon Ellis says he is loving the experience of living with Trent Cotchin and his family after hitting a form slump earlier this season that saw him dumped to the VFL for a month.

The 24-year-old Richmond premiership player has recently moved from the South Yarra home he shared with teammate Nathan Broad to the captain's house in Melbourne's northern suburbs.

"He's the ultimate professional, he's so selfless, he'll do anything for his family, and even taking in me, it just shows that he's so selfless, he just wants to help me and get the best out of me," Ellis said.

"That's why he's a great captain and he deserves everything that he gets."

Brandon Ellis wears a black armband in his Richmond's win over Geelong as a tribute to Eurydice Dixon, the young woman who was killed in suburban Princes Park.

"It's just really sad that women can't go walking alone," he said.

"It's just so sad – it's rocked the community, everyone's shocked. This one is for her."

Brandon Ellis admits being dumped to the VFL for a month was the wake-up call he needed.

Ellis' second match back in the senior team resulted in a season-high 25 disposals as the Tigers accounted for Essendon in Dreamtime at the MCG.

"It's been a slow start to the year, not the start I would've liked," he said.

"(I) did my time in the twos, I love playing with the VFL boys and I learnt a lot. It just shows you can't take your spot for granted and everyone's trying to play in your spot.

"I've learnt my lesson and hopefully I never have to look back."

Unlike many AFL footballers, Brandon Ellis says he actually enjoys the process of post-match recovery.

Every Sunday, Ellis' dad Dale would drop the teenager off at the Brunswick Baths on Dawson Street in Melbourne's north, so he could soak his battered body after playing for the Calder Cannons the day before.

"It's got me to where I am today, doing those little things when I was younger," Ellis said on the eve of his 110th-straight game.

"It's energy in for me – for a lot of guys, it could be energy out, thinking, 'I've got to come to the club again' when they just want to get away, but I love doing it.

"For me, it's more mental. If I'm good mentally, my body's going to feel fine."

Brandon Ellis signs a new two-year deal with Richmond that will keep him at the club until the end of 2019.

Ellis has averaged 22.7 disposals as a defender in 2017, including a career-high seven contested possessions as a key player in the back six.

"It's exciting and I wanted to stay at the Tigers, it was just about getting everything right," Ellis said.

"It's something off my mind now, which is good. The club has really looked after me and backed me in, so now I can just focus on the next few weeks and finals."

Ellis has re-emerged as a key Tiger after two seasons on the wing, moving to half-back where his harder edge in the contest has been one of the celebrated stories inside Punt Road Oval.

"That's obviously been one of my weaknesses through my career in the AFL and it's something I've worked really hard on," Ellis said.

"So every groundball drill we get to do I like to go first to get it out of the way and start on a good note and put myself out there and under pressure situations.

"That's something I've started that I am superstitious about, so if we have a groundball drill I'll make sure I'm first in line.

Alex Rance and fellow Tigers Brandon Ellis, Sam Lloyd and Daniel Rioli meet the fastest man in history, Usain Bolt, at the Puma store in Melbourne for a jumper presentation.

Brandon Ellis celebrates his 100th match with a 17-point win for the Tigers over Brisbane.

"To play one game I would have been pumped, but to play 100 … ever since under-10s all I've wanted to do was play AFL," Ellis said.

"It's come around really quick and it's been an exciting week and a pretty emotional week."

Brandon Ellis signs a new contract with Richmond that will keep him at the club until the end of 2017.

"Brandon's had a breakout season this year, exerting significant influence within the team due to his elite running ability and capacity to win plenty of the ball," Richmond football manager Dan Richardson said.

After being singled out by Tigers coach Damian Hardwick for an average performance against Gold Coast, Brandon Ellis redeems himself against Carlton but says waiting for the opportunity to do so was tough.

"It's probably the longest 13 days I've had to wait to try and rectify what happened," Ellis said.

"You have your down weeks but I just didn't want to have another down week.

"I just wanted to get up and play my role for the team and help us get over the line."

Brandon Ellis re-signs with the Tigers for another two years.

"They started talking to my manager the week before the Melbourne game ... and I said whatever they offer me, just take it - I want to sign,'' Ellis told the Herald Sun.

"We are on the verge of something special in the next few years, I think.

"We've just got so much confidence in where the group is going. The last two weeks we've played the brand of footy we knew we could.

"The boys believe in each other and we want to share the success together that is hopefully around the corner.''

Tiger Brandon Ellis is the round 17 NAB AFL Rising star collecting 21 possessions against North Melbourne.

"My goal at the start of the year was to play a few games. One or two would have been ideal, I would have been happy with that but to play the first 16 has been unreal," Ellis said.


"It's actually life changing and I'm just glad the coaches have been believing in me and backing me in week in, week out."

Brandon Ellis makes his AFL debut for Richmond at the MCG with 9 disposals (6 kicks and 3 handballs), 2 marks and 2 tackles in a 44-point loss to Carlton.

Brandon Ellis is likely to be entrusted with Richmond's kick-in duties, despite it being his first year in the big time.

"It just depends who's closest to the ball," Ellis said.

"If it's a slow play, Chris Newman will usually take the kick."