Hamling set to slip collar and head to Freo
WESTERN Bulldogs will rejig their backline for next year’s premiership defence after grand final hero Joel Hamling requested a trade to Fremantle yesterday.
The key defender made the tough call to leave the Dogs two weeks after his crucial shut-down role on Sydney superstar Lance Franklin helped break the Dogs’ 62year premiership drought.
His departure means the Dogs will strive hard to keep fellow defender Marcus Adams who is also keen on a move home to Western Australia for personal reasons.
Adams, 23, starred in the early part of last season before he was struck down with a nasty foot injury. He is seen as Hamling’s natural replace- ment in the Bulldogs’ back line for 2017.
West Coast have confirmed it has strong interest in Adams but the Dogs are reluctant to trade out a second key defender and will likely retain the strong-bodied backman for next season.
Hamling, 23, wanted to move to Perth to be closer to his ill father and is expected to sign a three-year deal with the Dockers worth about $1.2 million.
Fremantle have pick No.35 in next month’s draft, and will attempt to strike a deal with the Dogs for Hamling when club officials meet for trade talks tomorrow.
Dockers’ list chief Brad Lloyd said Fremantle’s top pick – No.7 – is off the table.
Lloyd said that the Dockers were thrilled to wel- come the 194cm defender.
“With the grand final celebrations it has been more difficult (for Hamling) to come to a decision, but he has indicated to us that he would like to get back to Western Australia and play for Fremantle, which is fantastic news,” Lloyd said.
“He did a really good job through the finals and he is only 23 years of age and really growing as a player.”