Brandon Ellis

Brandon Ellis (born 3 August 1993) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club and Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played 176 matches over eight seasons at , including in the 2017 and 2019 premierships.

Early life and junior football Ellis was raised in the inner-suburb of Carlton North, four kilometres north of Melbourne.

He first played football in the Auskick program in Brunswick at the age of four.

Ellis represented the Victorian Metro side at the 2010 Under 18 national championships. He recorded a 76 per cent disposal efficiency and the most score involvements of any defender in the competition. He earned All-Australian selection for his performances.

Ellis attended high school at Princes Hill Secondary College in the Melbourne suburb of North Carlton.

AFL career Richmond (2012–2019) Ellis was drafted to Richmond with the 15th selection in 2011 National Draft. He was nominated for the 2012 AFL Rising Star award in Round 17 after recording 21 disposals and 5 marks in Richmond's close loss to .

In Round 8, 2013 Ellis recorded a career-best 39 disposals in Richmond's 34-point victory over . Ellis placed equal fifth at the club in the Brownlow Medal tally that year, recording 5 votes. The same year he was selected in the inaugural AFL Players Association 22under22 team, as one of the best young players in the league.

Ellis received the Jack Titus medal in 2014, for finishing second in the Richmond Best-and-Fairest count. He led the club in disposals and rebound 50s and placed fourth in the club at the Brownlow Medal. He was also nominated to the All-Australian squad of 40 but was ultimately not selected to the final side. That same year he earned his second selection to the AFLPA's 22under22 team.

Ellis had another strong season in 2015, relishing his role as the club's number one outside midfielder. He topped the club for uncontested possessions and ranked second for total disposals. He failed to make an impact in Richmond's losing elimination final however, recording only 10 disposals on the day.

He played his 100th AFL game in Round 12, 2016, against the Gold Coast Suns at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He finished the season ranked 3rd at the club for disposals in 2016.

In 2017 he changed roles, shifting from the wing and into Richmond's half back line.

After 111 consecutive matches played at AFL level, Ellis was omitted from the Richmond side to face in round 6, 2018. It was his first missed match since round 12, 2013. He returned to senior football in round 10, after spending four weeks with the club's reserves side at VFL level.

In 2019 Ellis returned to a role on the wing. He finished the 2019 season by playing in a winning grand final, his second premiership in three seasons at Richmond.

He had played 176 games over eight seasons at Richmond.

Ellis played in 16 of a possible 17 games in his COVID-19 pandemic affected first season at Gold Coast, placing fifth in the club's best and fairest award.

In July 2024, Ellis retired effective immediately.

Statistics

As a child, Ellis grew up and lived in a housing commission flat in Melbourne's inner north.