Recently-axed midfielder Jack Billings has highlighted his intentions to continue his AFL career after being delisted following an underwhelming stint with the Melbourne Demons.
Billings impressed in a 10-season tenure with St Kilda before departing via a trade in the 2023 trade period to the Demons, where he then played 17 senior matches over the following two years.
The 30-year-old, who was taken with Pick 3 in the 2013 AFL Draft, played 155 games for the Saints, with his final years at St Kilda plagued by injury before the move to the Dees.
However, Billings had just a sole appearance at AFL level this year, in Round 3 against Gold Coast, despite quashing the several health concerns that disrupted his final years at Moorabbin.
In spite of his limited opportunity, Billings sees his time at Melbourne in a positive light and believes there is proof he can contribute at AFL level consistently from his time there, with his injury concerns becoming a thing of the past.
“I loved my time at the Dees,” Billings told AFL Trade Radio on Friday.
“It obviously didn't go the way that I wanted it to, and it was pretty quick, just the two years there.
“I worked really hard to get myself back to a really good position physically. That's probably one of the things I was most proud of at Melbourne; over the two years I was only unavailable for one week.
“Physically, I'm feeling really good and covering the ground as well as I have in four or five years.”
Billings stated that he and his manager are exploring possible routes to return to an AFL list, with the 30-year-old keen to play on in 2026.
“Yeah I definitely [want to play on],” Billings said.
“It's early days, but I'm definitely exploring it with my manager. We will get through the trade period first, and then it might start to ramp up. Right now, I'd say I'm definitely exploring what that could look like.
“One of my biggest strengths is my work ethic, so I think that is something I can offer a club.
“More experience, the character side of things, trying to be a role model."
Billings isn't holding a grudge against Melbourne for his axing, understanding the challenges 2025 brought as the club missed September action for a second-consecutive year.
“This year was really challenging for the whole club, and personally my year, I had a great pre-season, I understood the position that I was in," Billings said.
"I wasn't in that senior core group that played a lot together and had some success and I wasn't one of these early draft picks that they were going to try and play.
"I knew I had to be playing really well to be playing, so I understood that.
“It got to the end of the year, and it wasn't surprising, but throughout the year my mind started thinking of other things. By the end it was fine, I loved my time there, great group of guys and built some great relationships going forward.
“Clearly, I would have liked to contribute more... but it is what it is.”
