He was injured during the war and told he was expected to spend the remainder of his life in a wheelchair, but made a successful comeback.
After leaving the VFL he played for various clubs, including three stints with Williamstown in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).
[2][3] He started the 1939 season strongly in the league seconds and was called up to make his senior debut in round five after kicking 11 goals from two games.
[10] Unlike with his time at North Melbourne and St Kilda, Wells was part of a strong side at Williamstown.
[11] The season ended in disappointment when he was a member of the Williamstown team which lost to Sandringham by a single point in the preliminary final.
[15] Under the coaching of Wells, East Ballarat lost only one game in the home and away season, but faltered in the finals, with two losses meaning early elimination.
[26] During the year he sold his milk bar and announced his retirement from VFA football in August, citing a desire to move to the country and purchase a hotel.
Back to the form he had shown with Maryborough, Wells was again dominant up forward and topped the league's goal-kicking for a second time.
With his 114th goal for the season, kicked in the semi-final against Ballarat, he went past the league record set by Dave Duff in 1927.