Fremantle are expecting to hear about Joel Hamling’s plans for the 2024 season on Thursday, according to Head of Player Personnel David Walls.
It has been reported Hamling is considering a free agent move to Sydney, with the key defender weighing up his options after playing four AFL games and 17 WAFL games in 2023 after injury interrupted seasons between 2020-2022.
The key defender has been credited with the development of young defenders Hugh Davies and Josh Draper at Peel, and he was important in the final rounds of the season as he came in to add more height to Fremantle’s backline.
Any move could be confirmed as early as Friday when free agency opens, ahead of the commencement of the Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period on Monday.
“I heard from his manager last night, he said that we'll have an answer today,” Walls told SEN WA.
“He's got a bit to work through and we've got an offer on the table for him.
“We'd love Joel to continue his footy with us, but he's got a few things to weigh up and look at to see if he can find extra security and opportunity as well.
“He’s just looking at all these options. I think ideally, he'd like to stay at Fremantle, but he needs to look at what's out there.”
Walls said he expects the upcoming trade period to be a quiet one for Fremantle, with Liam Henry’s trade request to St Kilda likely to be the only player movement.
Holding picks 22, 41, 55 and 59 in the draft, Walls said Fremantle would look at options to move up into a late first round pick.
Every Club’s draft hand will be heavily impacted by potential first round bids on a handful of players, including Jed Walter (Suns academy), Ethan Read (Suns academy), Jake Rogers (Suns academy), Jordan Croft (Bulldogs father-son) and Will McCabe (Hawks father-son), meaning Freo’s pick 22 could slide back to no.27.
Walls said Fremantle would likely only use three picks at the draft, targeting extra forward line coverage.
“We would love to be able (add more) talent to the front half,” Walls said.
“I feel like our rucks, mids and the backline is sorted.
“So just keep adding talent in the front half, whether it’s key position or mid-sized smalls, just guys that are pretty dynamic that can hit the scoreboard.
“I think you see that the grand final with (Norm Smith Medallist) Bobby Hill and types like that - players that can create, hit the scoreboard and those highly talented front half players is what we've got our eyes on.”
Walls expects quiet trade period, confident with Darcy
View the 2023 Indicative Draft Order
