The AFL world has entered its quiet zone, but how are some of the Goulburn Valley exports’ careers poised heading into next season?
With the season complete, players, picks and pride have been fought over during the trade period, Mondays have been maddened, and all that remains in the year is the draft and the beginning of pre-season.
Thirty players from the Goulburn Valley entered this year on an AFL list, but how did they fare and who remains?
Shepparton Swans product-turned Adelaide Crow Josh Rachele had an up-and-down season, culminating in a teeth-related taunt at cross-town rival Port Adelaide and a stint in the SANFL.
Collingwood veteran Steele Sidebottom (Tallygaroopna) added 22 more games to his already incredible career total — now at 331.
Sidebottom, along with the Magpies, found form late in the season and he will be part of Collingwood’s push for another flag in 2025.
Cohuna export Josh Treacy emerged as a potential star of the league in the west, kicking a career-high 45 goals in 20 games as a bullocking key forward for Fremantle.
Another Goulburn Valley key forward export Tom Hawkins ended his glittering career in 2024.
Geelong’s star finished his time in the AFL on 359 games with 796 goals, three premierships and five All-Australian blazers.
Echuca-Mooroopna product Clayton Oliver’s tumultuous time in football continued with the media spotlight following him all season long and deep into the trade period as he looks to recapture his best football at Melbourne.
Seymour key forward product Josh Schache’s time in the AFL finished after he was delisted by Melbourne.
Originally drafted with pick two in the 2015 draft, Schache finished his career with 79 goals from 76 games at Brisbane, Western Bulldogs and Melbourne.
Schache’s former teammate at the Dogs and Shepparton export Alex Keath announced his retirement from the AFL after 109 games.
Where Goulburn Valley AFL exports sit heading into 2025
Adelaide: Jordan Butts (Shepparton, signed), Josh Rachele (Shepparton Swans, signed), Oscar Ryan (Shepparton United, signed)
Carlton: Brodie Kemp (Echuca, signed), Caleb Marchbank (Benalla, delisted)
Collingwood: Jamie Elliott (Euroa, signed), Steele Sidebottom (Tallygaroopna, signed), Lachie Schultz (Moama, signed)
Fremantle: Will Brodie (Shepparton, signed), Josh Treacy (Cohuna, signed),
Geelong: Tom Hawkins (Finley, retired)
Gold Coast: Nick Holman (Kyabram, signed)
GWS: Lachie Ash (Invergordon, signed)
Hawthorn: Harry Morrison (Benalla, signed), Jarman Impey (Shepparton-Shepparton Swans, signed)
Melbourne: Clayton Oliver (Echuca-Mooroopna, signed), Marty Hore (Leitchville-Gunbower, signed), Josh Schache (Seymour, delisted)
North Melbourne: Jy Simpkin (Mooroopna, signed), Brayden George (Girgarre, signed)
Richmond: Tom Brown (Mooroopna, signed)
Port Adelaide: Ollie Wines (Echuca, signed), Tom Clurey (Katamatite, delisted), Esava Ratugolea (Cobram, signed)
West Coast: Tom Cole (Seymour, signed), Harley Reid (Tongala, signed)
Western Bulldogs: Alex Keath (Shepparton, retired), Laitham Vandermeer (Mooroopna, signed)
One player on the other end of the career spectrum is West Coast’s Harley Reid.
The young gun from Tongala had one of the most highly-publicised debut seasons in AFL history and Reid certainly didn’t disappoint as he won the Goal of the Year award for his scintillating run and bounce effort from the centre square against the Demons.
Fellow young gun Tom Brown (Mooroopna) continued to develop his craft as a key defender during his third season on Richmond’s list.
Brown played 18 of his 19 AFL games in 2024.
Another key defender, Tom Clurey (Katamatite), ended his 124-game career at Port Adelaide to pursue other opportunities and, as of November 5, he is not on an AFL list.
Hawthorn winger Harry Morrison (Benalla) chalked up his 100th game as a Hawk in round 22 against Carlton, collecting 20 disposals and a goal.
Morrison recently signed a two-year contract extension to stay at Hawthorn until 2026 and chatted with The News about his time playing at Benalla and under Sam Mitchell.