Lions veteran Mitch Robinson has discussed his “emotional” phone call with Cam Ellis-Yolmen, where the 28-year-old made known he was immediately retiring from football.
The Lions last week announced Ellis-Yolmen had been moved to their inactive list after the on-baller chose not to receive a COVID-19 vaccination inline with Queensland-based AFL and AFLW regulations.
Ellis-Yolmen played 39 games for Adelaide before he was picked up by Brisbane as a free agent ahead of the 2020 season. He played nine games in his first year with the club, but couldn’t notch a senior game in 2021.
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Speaking on his Rip Through It podcast, Robinson said Ellis-Yolmen had been frank with most players.
“I think most of the players understand who is and who isn’t getting vaccinated – and Cam wasn’t hiding that fact. We knew his situation throughout the whole process from when we found out you have to be vaxxed to play,” he said on the podcast.
“I’ve known for a long time Yolmen’s situation with it. I’m not going to get personally into why he has and why he hasn’t got the vaccination because that’s not my place to say, that’s definitely his.
“Knowing his situation and what he’s been going through since it (was made compulsory) to get it done, (I have) a lot of sympathy for him.”
Robinson said he and his teammates found out about Ellis-Yolmen’s settlement last Friday – the date in which all Queensland-based AFL and AFLW players, as well as football department staff, had to have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Apparently the club’s been really good with this stuff. We’ve had Danny Daly and our welfare manager Andrew Crowell, who have been in close contact with him the whole time, making sure that he’s got all the help and support he needs,” he said.
“He chose not to speak to the group. I’m guessing from an emotional standpoint and having to come in and do that stuff was a little bit full-on for him.
“He gave his close friends a call at the club and he called us about half an hour before the meeting started.
“He wasn’t at our training session in the morning, so I kind of knew what was going on. He was like: ‘I’m going to step away from football for a while and just sort everything out’.
“It was a pretty emotional conversation to have with someone to be honest, especially a close mate like Yolmen. That was a bit of a hard moment and hard pill to swallow that he wouldn’t be continuing at our footy club for the time being.
“He’s been a really big part of that club for the last few years and it’s sad to see him go, but that’s the reality these days.
“For him to say he’s retiring – and he’s only 28, he’s so young – it’s not because of injury or anything like that, it’s personal choice and the freedom to do what you want with your body.
“He’s really passionate with football and where he’s been with the club, so to see him and hear in his voice, he was really sad.
“It’s sh-t because COVID’s here to stay obviously and for players like him and Liam Jones and some other players who probably won’t get the vaccination, it’s a tough to swallow that’s the reason why your footy career gets short.”
Robinson said the situation was still “pretty fresh” and Ellis-Yolmen would explain his decision “when he’s ready”.
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