Former AFL And AFLW Talents To Light Up The 2026 EDFL Season

Monday, March 23rd, 2026 at 3:57pm

By Evan Tudor

There have been some major signings during the off-season with an abundance of former AFL and AFLW players set to light up the upcoming EDFL season.

Check out our summary below of who’s going where in 2026!

Robbie Gray - East Sunbury

By far one of the most notable names coming out of this transfer window is former Port Adelaide legend, Robbie Gray. A Hall of Fame member of his old club, Gray joins East Sunbury with a stacked AFL resume; 271 career games, 367 goals, three John Cahill Medals, a two-time leading goalkicker for the Power, and five Showdown medals to his name.

As reported by Star Weekly, Gray is unlikely to play every game for the Thunder and will play for the club when time permits between his commitments with Port Adelaide, where he is part of the recruitment and list management team.

Kerryn Peterson – Maribyrnong Park

A star of Carlton’s AFLW program has put pen on paper to become another AFLW addition to the Marby Lions in 2026, with Kerryn Peterson set to join the side as one of its playing-coaches.

Peterson played 64 games for Carlton across a career spanning from 2018 until the end of last season and picked up three selections in the AFLW All Australian side.

Peterson also carries a rich basketball background under her belt, with 152 WNBL games to her name. She was also an inaugural player for the league’s Bendigo Spirit in 2007.

Jason Johannisen – Deer Park

Strong Western Bulldog talent will be a feature of the Deer Park list this season, with Bulldog premiership player and Norm Smith Medalist Jason Johannisen set to make his EDFL debut for Deer Park.

Johannisen was a key feature in 212 AFL games for his beloved Bulldogs, kicking 77 goals in his career, but recently called time on his professional career in late October last year.

The South African-born footballer will play alongside one of his former AFL teammates, Lin Jong, who signed with the Lions for the 2025 season.

Ellyse Gamble – Maribyrnong Park

Maribyrnong Park is set to have its women’s program boosted with talent ahead of season 2026, with former AFLW player for the Western Bulldogs and Essendon, Ellyse Gamble, set to suit up in the Lions’ colours.

Gamble holds 63 career games to her name at the top level, with the former Bulldog changing club colours to the red and black of Essendon ahead of the Bombers’ AFLW debut in August 2022.

Todd Goldstein – Pascoe Vale

One of the greatest AFL rucks of all time is on his way to Pascoe Vale, with Todd Goldstein joining the Panthers in 2026.

Straight out of his 345-game career in the AFL for North Melbourne and Essendon, Goldstein will quickly become a standout feature and highlight for the EDFL’s very own red and black.

Standing at 201cm tall, Goldstein won’t be able to play every game for the Panthers due to commitments with Essendon’s coaching panel, but he’ll sure be right in the middle of things when he stars on the local footy stage.

Sarah Wright – Westmeadows

North Melbourne premiership player Sarah Wright is returning to EDFL footy for Westmeadows following retirement from the AFLW.

The ex-Kangaroo will join the Tigers to be alongside her sister Gemma, who is fresh off her third EDFL best and fairest.

Sarah’s AFLW career spanned 61 games for the Shinboners over six seasons, with the premiership defender set to become a very handy asset to the Tigers as they look to avenge their early exit from last year’s finals series.

Brandon Ellis – West Coburg

A two-time AFL premiership player is returning to his old roots of West Coburg, with Richmond’s very own Brandon Ellis making an EDFL comeback in 2026 following a stellar career at the top level.

Ellis was a key player in the Tiger’s 2017 and 2019 premierships, with the “hard-running half-back” featuring in 176 games in the yellow and black where he slotted 58 goals during his tenure at Punt Road.

Ellis also spent a further five years of his football career with Gold Coast, where he played 75 games and kicked 27 goals for the rising Suns.

Jess Duffin – Aberfeldie

Decorated with extensive AFLW experience and time batting from the crease representing Australia, Aberfeldie have landed themselves a big signing, with Jess Duffin joining the team at Clifton Park.

Named in the 2019 All-Australian side, Duffin played 42 games across three clubs, with experience at Collingwood, Hawthorn, and North Melbourne to her name.

But before she took on the game of Aussie rules, Duffin was one of Australia’s star cricket players, having played in three tests, 50 ODIs, and 64 T20Is.

Rory Atkins – Maribyrnong Park

Another veteran of the AFL is returning to his home club, with Rory Atkins one of three from the top level making the trip to Monk Oval ahead of season 2026.

Much known for his time spent at Adelaide with a 101-game career for the Crows, Atkins also held a four-season stint with Gold Coast picking up 37 games in addition to his final season at Port Adelaide.

Caitlin Thorne – Strathmore

Strathmore will get its own taste of AFLW talent in its team when the ex-Cat joins the Mores.

Known for her ability to play across halfback and through to the midfield, Thorne was a feature in 11 AFLW games for Geelong across 2024 and 2025.

It’ll be an EDFL debut for the ex-Queenslander who was delisted by Geelong at the conclusion of last AFLW season.

Josh Eyre – Maribyrnong Park

In yet another signing for the Marby Lions across both its men’s and women’s programs, another AFL listed player is on the way to Monk Oval.

While he never made his debut on the AFL stage, Josh Eyre knows his way around the football and will be a fun one to watch in 2026.

With 43 VFL games under his belt for Essendon and Collingwood and former draft pick number 39 for the Dons, Eyre is another high-talent young individual who’ll play alongside a buzzing Maribyrnong Park.

He joins the team at Monk Oval alongside his brother, Ryan.

Tahni Nestor – Aberfeldie

With some extensive footballing experience, Aberfeldie has made a splash and landed itself another AFLW name, as Tahni Nestor gears up for action at Clifton Park this year.

Nestor featured in 12 AFLW games and is mostly known from her time at North Melbourne where she featured in 10 games, with the other two taking place at Carlton.

And with further football time on her CV coming from a year in Hawthorn’s VFLW side in 2018 and Melbourne University’s the season after, what kind of impact can she make at the two blues this year?

Brandon Ryan – Maribyrnong Park

Making his way from the Brisbane Lions to the Marby Lions, Brandon Ryan is another former AFL player re-joining the club.

Only featuring in a single AFL game for Brisbane, Ryan made up the rest of his senior career with three games at Hawthorn.

Ryan was dominant in the Lions’ reserves list in the VFL with 33 appearances and was named in the league’s team of the year for Box Hill in 2023 after a 31-goal season.

He played 42 games and kicked 84 goals for Maribyrnong Park between 2019 and 2022.

Emily Elkington – Aberfeldie

Yet another AFLW player is on the way to Clifton Park, with West Coast the next team to be represented at Aberfeldie through Emily Elkington.

Elkington was a feature in five games for the Eagles in 2023 after her time with Claremont in the WAFLW.

Since then, she’s suited up in three games for Carlton in the VFLW where she was one of the standouts with possessions galore, including 21 in the Round 13 game against Darebin last year.

Paul Tsapatolis – Deer Park

Joining Deer Park in 2026 is Paul Tsapatolis, a former Geelong-listed Category B rookie who was signed to Kardinia Park in 2020.

While he never debuted on the national stage, Tsapatolis featured on the Cats VFL list in 2022 and contested in 12 matches.

He joins the EDFL after three years with Point Cook in the WFNL.

Abbey McDonald – Hillside

Hillside has made its move in securing AFLW talent, with former Cat Abbey McDonald joining the reigning premiers at Shark Park.

McDonald was drafted by the Cats ahead of the 2022 season seven competition but didn’t make her debut until 2023.

McDonald featured in eight games at the national level for the Cats and was also a regular appearance for the VFLW side.

Jake Long – Tullamarine

Former Essendon player and father-son draft pick, Jake Long is making his way back to his EDFL home of Tullamarine.

The former Don featured holds a five-game career on the national stage and was last part of the EDFL outfit in 2024 when he was named in the Division One team of the year.

Kayley Kavanagh – Strathmore

Returning to Lebanon Reserve in 2026 is Strathmore’s very own Kayley Kavanagh who is back after a season with West Coast.

Kavanagh was drafted with pick 14 in the 2023 AFLW national draft but didn’t make her debut until last season.

She featured in seven games for the Eagles including the side’s elimination final against Carlton when she laid down a career-best seven tackles.

Darcy Tucker – Maribyrnong Park

Maribyrnong Park seems to be the place to be for ex-AFL talent with Darcy Tucker's transfer to the Lions entered over the weekend.

The former Docker and Kangaroo played 156 games over 10 seasons, and will feature for Marby if his Carlton VFL commitments allow it.

Former AFL And AFLW Talents To Light Up The 2026 EDFL Season

By Evan Tudor

EDFL Partners