It’s been a long few years for AFL players who have dealt with strict COVID restrictions – so many have headed to exotic overseas destinations to let their hair down with the 2022 season done and dusted.
Many donned Lederhosen and raised their steins at Oktoberfest in Germany, while others opted for a more toned-down, relaxing visit to destinations like Milan, Paris and Fiji.
So where did your favourite footy stars head to this offseason?
Magpies star Scott Pendlebury with wife Alex and their children Jax and Darcy on holiday in Fiji
Magpies skipper Scott Pendlebury and glamorous wife Alex posted shots from the Waiyanitu Waterfall in Fiji, with the power couple looking like they were having a blast have a swim with children Jax and Darcy.
Collingwood appear to be putting in a nomination for Best team of the offseason; with bad boy Jack Ginnivan and several teammates appearing to enjoy a few beers at Oktoberfest in Germany, while Jamie Elliott and Darcy Moore took part in tamer European holidays.
Ginnivan posted several videos and photos enjoying the tastes, sights and sounds of Munich, in Germany.
One TikTok video showed the controversial 19-year-old enjoying a ride on a Lime Scooter while clutching a H&M shopping bag.
Another showed him, dressed in Lederhosen, in one of Munich’s famed beer halls belting out iconic Neil Diamond hit ‘Sweet Caroline’ while holding a stein of beer.
With him were Magpies teammates Nathan Murphy, Will Kelly and recently delisted brothers Callum and Tyler Brown – who often appear on Ginnivan’s prolific Instagram feed.
Jack Ginnivan posted a selfie from a Munich Beer Hall while the controversial star was over for Oktoberfest and looking for love
Late in the night Ginnivan, who appears to still be looking for true love, also posted a selfie, biting down on a fake rose and captioning the photo: ‘Single and sad’.
He captioned other videos ‘This is living’ and ‘defeated said no one’, likely in reference to his beer drinking.
Elliott and Moore, meanwhile, are holidaying near Florence in Italy – part of the beautiful region of Tuscany – with their partners, taking in the stunning scenery.
Elliott, who was superb in Collingwood’s unlikely run to the preliminary final, took in some gorgeous Italian sunshine with a cute-looking dog that appeared to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Jamie Elliott catches some rays in Tuscany as he enjoys the company of a cute-looking dog
Jamie Elliott and Darcy Moore have been holidaying in Fiesole, a small town near the Italian city of Florence
Adelaide players, including Brodie Smith, Matt Crouch, Lachie Murphy and captain Taylor Walker donned matching party shirts as they cheered on Aussie superstar Daniel Ricciardo at the Singapore GP last week.
Walker also posted a video of the party appearing to get ready to gamble at the famous Marina Bay Sands Casino.
‘Yep, ya clean us out…’, he wrote on a video as they caught an escalator down to the gaming floor.
Adelaide Crows players including Lachie Murphy, Taylor Walker, Brody Smith and Matt Crouch wore matching party shirts while in Singapore for the Formula 1
Crows stars Taylor Walker (left) and Matt Crouch enjoy a party while in Singapore for the Formula 1 last week
Walker also posted a video from inside the famous Marina Bay Sands Casino as he caught an escalator down to the gaming floor
Carlton star has been in Mexico with partner Grace Phillips, and posted a number of stunning shots of the loved-up pair exploring water holes.
Eagles premiership hero Dom Sheed was in Cadiz, Spain, with his wife Brooke – and the duo could be seen eating copious amounts of seafood in the tropical, beachside location.
Jack Silvagni has been exploring water holes in Mexico with partner Grace Phillips
West Coast premiership hero Dom Sheed took in the sights of Cadiz, Spain, with wife Brooke
Demons captain Max Gawn was enjoying a cultural awakening in Milan, Italy, alongside wife Jessica and their 11-month-old son George.
They ate oysters on a date night, and visited the iconic Porta Sempione Gate and architecturally-stunning Milan Cathedral.
Max Gawn and wife Jessica have been holidaying in Milan, Italy, with 11-month-old son George
Melbourne teammates Christian Salem and Clayton Oliver posted a shot of them kicking around a soccer ball on the beachfront in Lisbon, Portugal.
Norm Smith Medallist Christian Petracca visited the sand dunes of Dubai with partner Bella Beischer, stopping to pat a camel and lounge in luxurious resorts.
The foodie pair then headed to the City of Love, Paris, visiting the Eiffel Tower before tucking into some gourmet French fare – perhaps as inspiration for Petracca’s cooking TikTok account.
Christian Petracca posted this shot taking in the enormous sand dunes outside Dubai
Petracca and partner Bella Beischer then headed to Paris for some romance and gourmet food
If there was any team who aimed to rival Collingwood for the Best Offseason, it was Essendon.
Despite facing criticism by Kane Cornes for partying so quickly and hard after their disappointing season that saw coach Ben Rutten sacked, many members of the squad were in Italy and Spain by the time you could say footy trip.
Andrew McGrath, Peter Wright, Zach Merrett, Matt Guelfi, Jordan Ridley, Sam Draper, Jayden Laverde and Brayden Ham were just some of the players who spent time in Ibiza and Spain.
Essendon players enjoy a cruise around the glorious waters of Spain
Matt Guelfi (centre) and Sam Draper (right) enjoy themselves at an Mediterranean resort
(L-R) Brayden Ham, Matt Guelfi and Sam Draper don swimmers on a cruise around Ibiza
Often shirtless and catching rays, whether that be on a luxurious boat or resort, the Bombers players were in need of letting off steam as much as any after a tumultuous few years.
Guelfi (2L), Jayden Laverde (centre) and Zach Merrett (right) enjoy a relaxing drink while wearing eye-catching party shirts
Andrew McGrath and girlfriend Emma Laughlin ride over San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge
Dyson Heppell and partner Kate Turner headed to Puglia and Sardinia in Italy
In addition to team activities, skipper Dyson Heppell visited Puglia and Sardinia with partner Kate Turner, while Andrew McGrath and girlfriend Emma Laughlin flew across the pond to the USA.
The pair took in an college football game, and posted a shot of themselves taking a leisurely bicycle ride over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
Ben Ainsworth (2L), Charlie Constable (4L), and Brandon Ellis (centre, white shorts) partying in Ibiza alongside NRL bad boy Kevin Proctor (right)
Brandon Ellis (centre) and partner Sarah Bell wear traditional German attire for Oktoberfest, which NRL bad boy Kevin Proctor (right) joined them for
Gold Coast Suns players Ben Ainsworth, Brandon Ellis and Charlie Constable also spent some time in Ibiza.
Ellis posted a shot of the trio and their partners enjoying the famous Ocean Beach Club resort alongside NRL bad boy Kevin Proctor, who was sacked by the Titans after posting shots of himself vaping in the stadium at half time of a game this season.
Ellis also spent time in Germany for Oktoberfest and Amsterdam with girlfriend Sarah Bell, with Proctor joining the pair for a beer in Munich.
Giants star Toby Greene takes in the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt
Toby Greene eschewed the regular European haunts and instead headed to Egypt to take in some history.
The Giants star previously posted shots enjoying a surfing trip in Bali, where he was welcomed by a taxi driver holding a sign saying ‘Welcome AFL bad boy Toby Greene!’
He took in some history as he toured the iconic pyramids, which are around 4500 years old, before watching a FIBA 3×3 basketball Nations League game on a stunning court in the shadows of the pyramids and the famous Sphinx.
Hawks forward Chad Wingard opted for the slightly more traditional holiday in Italy.
Chad Wingard and girlfriend Lilly holidayed in Italy, including Lake Como
Wingard enjoys a glass of Italian wine in a hip laneway
The Hawthorn star was visited Lake Como with girlfriend Lilly, taking the time to enjoy some gourmet food and wine, pat a donkey and enjoy some boating on the stunning destination.
Teammate Jarman Impey was also in Italy, with the 27-year-old visiting the Adidas store in Milan, where he was able to create his own custom-designed football jersey with company staff.
Of course Bali was popular as always, with Kangaroos players opting to spend a few days at the Indonesian holiday destination.
Kangaroos players, including Jaidyn Stephenson, Jy Simpkin, Cam Zurhaar, Luke McDonald, Aiden Bonar and Nick Larkey have a cocktail at Finns Beach Club in Bali
Kangaroos players enjoy a dinner in Bali
Eddie Ford, Jaidyn Stephenson and Nick Larkey were all smiles while enjoying some time away in Bali
North Melbourne players, including Jaidyn Stephenson, Jy Simpkin, Cam Zurhaar, Luke McDonald, Aiden Bonar, Eddie Ford, Jack Mahoney, Curtis Taylor and Nick Larkey were spotted enjoying a fruity cocktail at Finns Beach Club, among other destinations.
The stars also took in some of the waterfalls on the tropical island, as well as letting their hair down after finishing last in 2022.
Saints star Brad Hill also spent some time in Bali, attending a friend’s wedding at the luxurious Noku Beach House in Seminyak alongside partner Samantha Dobbs, with the pair becoming parents for the first time in December last year.
Saints star Brad Hill attended a friend’s wedding in Bali with partner Samantha Dobbs
(L-R) Connor Idun, Harry Himmelberg, Xavier O’Halloran, Brent Daniels and Tim Taranto at the LA Chargers game against Jacksonville on September 26
Ahead of his move to Richmond, Tim Taranto enjoyed some time in Los Angeles with Giants teammates Harry Himmelberg, Xavier O’Halloran, Brent Daniels and Connor Idun.
The quintet took in some sun at Newport Beach in California and explored Hollywood before attending the LA Chargers stunning loss to Jacksonville in the incredible SoFi Stadium.
Several Swans players opted for the stunning scenery of the Greek island Mykonos, before heading, alongside half the league it feels like, to Oktoberfest in Germany.
Tom McCartin (right) and his Swans teammates enjoyed a cruise in the stunning water surrounding Mykonos
Justin McInerney (right) and Peter Ladhams enjoy a meal at Mamalouka restaurant in Mykonos, Greece
Swans stars Tom Papley (left) and Justin McInerney (right) dressed in Lederhosen for Oktoberfest in Germany
Other stars who racked up the frequent flyer points included Luke Ryan (Bali), Travis Boak (Red Bull HQ, Austria), Jake Kolodjashni (Mykonos, Greece) and Orazio Fantasia (Italy).
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