Despite his time away from the game, it was a big year for the AFL greats, who sold properties across Melbourne from Toorak to Lower Plenty.
Among the football legends making moves in the property market was former Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown, who signed a seven-figure deal for a vineyard in Canterbury.
In Williamstown, former Bulldogs star Chris Grant has targeted a record-breaking sale of his waterfront pad, while former teammate Matthew Croft has also set up a family home in Moonee Ponds.
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Chris Tarrant and wife Lauren put down almost $10 million on two Toorak homes.
Recent AFL retirees who took part in the property game included Hawthorn premiership stars Brent Guerra and Ryan Schoenmakers, as well as former Bombers player and Survivor contestant David Zaharakis.
See below how much each ex-football player sold for a home in Melbourne in 2023.
Jonathan Brown
![Jonathan and Kylie Brown](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 768 1024"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Jonathan and Kylie Brown at their home in Canterbury.Photo: Jason Edwards
Brisbane Lions legend turned Fox Foot commentator Jonathan Brown and his wife Kylie sold their Canterbury property for more than $9 million in October.
Historic 22 Chaucer Cres, known as Hayford, has its own vineyard and has been home to the Browns and their three children since 2019.
After moving to Queensland to be closer to Kylie's family, the couple put the house on the market with an asking price of $8.75 million to $9.25 million.
It is said to have sold for more than $9.25 million at a private auction.
Mike Beardsley of Jellis Craig was in charge of sales.
chris grant
![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1280 720"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Chris Grant sold his Williamstown pad.
Also in October, Western Bulldogs veteran and former captain Chris Grant bought a new luxury home on the Williamstown waterfront for a record price.
The Australian Football Hall of Fame put 15 properties on The Strand up for sale in August with price tags ranging from $8 million to $8.8 million.
It was later sold for an undisclosed amount of approximately $8.5 million, breaking the suburb's previous home price threshold of $7.35 million.
Compton Green's Inner West director Adrian Butera led the sale.
michael rockman
Michael Rockman sold his Glen Iris property.
Former Richmond, Collingwood and Sydney Swans player Michael Lockman raided his Glen Iris home in September.
The former footballer bought the pad at 4 Essex Street 37 years ago and has since welcomed a number of AFL legends to the pad, including Barry Mitchell, Paul Kelly and the late Darren Millane.
![Michael Lockman - Herald Sun Real Estate (2)](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 768 768"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It was first put on the market with an asking price of $1.5 million to $1.65 million, then sold at auction in August.
Steve Burke, principal director of Belle Property Glen Iris, then sold the property about a month later for $1.528 billion.
Chris Tarrant
Chris and Lauren Tarrant.
Former Collingwood and Fremantle team member Chris Tarrant and his interior designer wife Lauren spent around $10 million on two neighboring Toorak homes in May.
Public records show the high-profile couple bought 5 and 7 St George's Road, one of the most prestigious streets in Melbourne's most expensive suburb, for $6.352 million and $3.5 million respectively. He reportedly paid $73 million.
Antoinette Nido of RT Edgar Toorak brokered the transaction for two three-bedroom homes.
Matthew Croft
Matthew Croft's recently sold Moonee Ponds home.
Another Bulldogs veteran who sold his home this year was former defender Matthew Croft and his wife Elisa.
The couple listed their 108-year-old family home in Moonee Pond in September with an asking price of $3 million to $3.3 million.
The pad at 40 Derby Street initially had difficulties, but further post-auction negotiations led to a private sale which is understood to be within the original price guide.
John McKenna of Nelson Alexander was in charge of sales.
Adrian De Luca
Former Carlton footballer Adrian De Luca bought a new Brighton East home in May for $2.99 million after two months on the market.
The former Blues player and his wife, Krista, put their pad at 7 Agnew Street up for sale in March for between $2.75 billion and $2.925 billion, and it sold for $2.875 billion at auction in early April. .
Marshall White Bayside director Matthew Pilios later struck a deal for the couple in the renovated 103-year-old mansion.
Jasper Pittard
House Pittard sold in Brunswick East
At Brunswick East, former Port Adelaide turned Kangaroos player Jasper Pittard has moved out of the Brunswick East house he has called home since returning to Melbourne following his retirement in 2020.
The home, located at 9 Sedgman Street, just off Lygon Street, was sold ahead of a March auction led by Jellis Craig agent Julie Sasjala, with an asking price of $1.185 million to $1.3 million. Ta.
Jasper Pittard.Photo: Tony Gough
Pittard is currently the creative director and co-founder of Footy for Climate and graphic designer for Melbourne sports and leisure clothing brand R.Sport.
He sold the three-bedroom pad for $1.285 billion.
David Zaharakis
David Zaharakis.Photo: Michael Klein
Former Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis, who also competed on Australian Survivor earlier this year, put his spectacular Lower Plenty estate up for sale in February.
The house at 127 Bonds Rd is set on 4061sqm and features indoor basketball and squash courts, a theater room, billiards room and swimming pool.
He was listed with Craig Parker of Morrison Kleeman with an asking price of $3.8 million to $4.1 million.
However, after remaining on the market for about 70 days, the listing was withdrawn.
josh bruce
Josh Bruce.Photo: Michael Klein
The 1920s Elsternwick home owned by recently retired Bulldog Josh Bruce and his wife Pip was listed on the market in September, shortly after their last game, with a price tag of $1.7 million to $1.75 million. After that, it is still on the market.
In addition to his position as a defender for the Western Bulldogs, Bruce also played for GWS at the beginning of his career and later for St Kilda.
His property at 419 Kooyong Rd was put up for auction in late October, but it was unsuccessful.
Agent Daniel Ashton of Biggin & Scott Elsternwyck has the listing.
paul van der haar
House Vanderhaar in Kew sold in November.
Paul Vander Haal, the Essendon premiership player known as the Flying Dutchman during his playing days, has sold his home in Kew, which had a garage 'storage' out the back.
The former footballer and Essendon Hall of Famer put 155-157 Derby Street on the market for $2.9 million to $3.1 million in August ahead of a scheduled auction.
Essendon Legends Game — Runner delivers cigarettes to Paul Vander Haal.
But industry insiders say the property didn't sell until early November, when it was sold privately for $2.4 million after tough negotiations.
Devon Smith
Essendon alumnus Devon Smith, who also played for the GWS Giants, sold the Carlton North house he bought as a young footballer in August.
The AFL Rising Star Award winner has put his Victorian-era pad at 749 Drummond Street on the market ahead of auction in August with an asking price of $1.3 million to $1.4 million.
Nelson Alexander Carleton North agent Charlie Barham was at the helm, and the sale was made for $1.6 million.
Brent Guerra
1 of 9 Sandford Street, Highett – Herald Sun Real Estate
Two-time Hawthorn premiership-winning star Brent Guerra paid $1.23 million in February for a home in Highett where teammates Luke Hodge and Lance “Buddy” Franklin often hung out.
The three-bedroom pad at 1/9 Sandford Street was auctioned with a guide price of $1.02 million to $1.085 million, before selling for $1.23 million.
Marshall White Bayside director Matthew Pilios handled the sale of the property, which has been home to Guerra since 2003.
ryan schoenmakers
Another Hawks premiership player, Ryan Schoenmakers, and his wife Alisha sold a luxury townhouse in Ashburton for $1.84 million at auction in May.
Schoenmakers bought the property at 7a Gloucester Road in 2014 before developing the three-bedroom pad, which was listed in May with an asking price of $1.6 million to $1.76 million.
The newly built home had a six-star energy rating and was packed with stylish amenities.
Sales were handled by Jellis Craig Boroondara Sales Manager Michael Wood.
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