Keath fired up for return

WESTERN Bulldogs recruit Alex Keath expects to be in full training just after Christmas following recent surgery.

The former cricketerturned-Adelaide Crow joined the Bulldogs in a trade that was finalised only in the final 15 minutes of the trade period on Wednesday night.

He admitted he was sweating as the clock ticked down, but he had faith the Bulldogs would find a way to land him.

“I was a little bit nervous, but I was always confident something would get done at the end there,” Keath said.

“I’m just really relieved and it’s great to come to the club today and I’m looking forward to getting into the training.

“As you guys saw there were a few trades that went pretty late in the day and I was one of them.

“But credit to [Bulldogs list boss] Sam [Power] and his team as they did a great job and I’m just really happy to be here now.”

Keath recently had surgery on his lower leg, though the intercept defender said it should not affect his 2020 campaign.

“It was at a time when I needed to get it right,” he said.

“With a potential trade coming up, it was important to make sure my ankle was in the best possible condition going forward. The Crows were fantastic and at the end of the day I was contracted to Adelaide so it was an Adelaide decision to have the surgery done.

“All parties were happy so I will just concentrate on my rehab now and I’m looking forward to getting into training with the Dogs.”

St Kilda was also into Keath. The 27-year-old toured the Saints’ Moorabbin headquarters earlier this year before he decided on the Bulldogs.

Keath, who played 30 games with Adelaide, said he felt the Bulldogs was a good fit for him.

“It was the communication I was getting from the coaches and people around that sort of team in terms of how I would fit in,” he said.

“There’s a few other factors as well, like they have a very positive culture stemming from those conversations.

“They also have a young and talented list.”