Bulldogs gun may follow netball partner west
WESTERN Bulldogs star Tim English may have a lure to return to his home in Western Australia with his partner, Rudi Ellis, poised to sign a twoyear deal at West Coast Fever.
Sources have confirmed Queensland Firebird Ellis is on the verge of agreeing a deal to play at the Fever until the end of 2023, just days before her partner plays for the Western Bulldogs in the grand final.
English is out of contract at the end of next season and is expected to command plenty of interest from both Fremantle and the Eagles, who are a major partner of the Fever.
The Pingelly-raised ruckman has told the Bulldogs he is unlikely to look at an extension before the start of next year. Ellis has spent the past two years at the Queensland Firebirds, playing 17 games as a defender in their rotation, with the Sydney-born athlete having previously been a training partner at the Melbourne Vixens and NSW Swifts, winning an Australian Netball League premiership with Victorian Fury in 2019.
The 24-year-old had previously been part of the Australian under-17, under-19 and under-21 squads and was earlier this year named in the 2021-22 national development squad.
It is understood the 191cm goalkeeper had strong interest from the Vixens and Collingwood but was swayed to join the Fever after being impressed by a conversation with new coach Dan Ryan.
OUTGOING Fremantle midfielder Adam Cerra says he is yet to nominate a club of choice with trade talks set to officially open in under two weeks.
Cerra requested a trade back to his home state at the end of the regular season, with Carlton and grand finalists Melbourne both pitching hard to try and sign the first-round draftee.
The 21-year-old said there was plenty of time to declare who he wanted to suit up for next year after playing 76 games since being selected by the Dockers with pick five in the 2017 draft.
The AFL’s trade period begins on October 4.