They can if they retire when under contract which Jones was. It's actually mentioned in the rules.https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.aflplayers.com.au/app/u...AQFnoECCoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2m5YmiHVKAs5lR5SCFVmh6
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I don’t think that’s applicable here though. Wasn’t he effectively deregistered? Anything in the papers about him retiring would have just been part of the settlement to forego any future claims. He was sacked and delisted. Which was applauded feverishly at the time.