Joel Hamling has put his hand up for any role as he prepares for the 2017 season with the Fremantle Dockers.
The 194 cm key position player expects to play a role in defence, but isn’t ruling anything out.
“I’ve had a few chats with Ross Lyon and the coaches, and I’ll play somewhere in the backline I’d say, and help out where I can.
“Obviously it’s going to be tough for selection with some good players in the backline as well, so we’ll start pre-season and go from there.
Hamling’s numbers say little of his outstanding defensive performance in the 2016 finals series, averaging just 9.75 disposals over the Western Bulldogs four finals wins.
But as their key defender, the 23-year-old kept some of the game’s most feared forwards quiet.
Josh Kennedy, Jeremy Cameron and Lance Franklin combined for 216 goals in 2016, but only three of those came when playing on Hamling during the finals series.
After helping the Bulldogs to their first Premiership since 1954, Hamling was traded to Fremantle after nominating the club as his preferred destination.
As a Grand Final player, Hamling isn’t due to train with his new teammates for another fortnight, however, the Cable Beach product is keen to get started earlier, even as he manages his move back to Western Australia.
“I’ll continue training here, meet with the boys and the coaches and go from there,” Hamling said.
“The lead in is a bit longer for me as I finished a bit later, and I’ve got to move back, with my house and stuff like that. I’ll still be around the club but I’ll get a day off here and there to move, and get myself settled in WA again.”
At Fremantle, Hamling will reunite with Shane Kersten after the pair spent a couple years with the Cats after being drafted to Geelong in the 2011 National Draft.
“I’ve known Shane for a while, we grew up and played together, lived together and done everything together,” Kersten said.
“To come back with Shane, I’m really close with him and I’ve got a locker next to him. We’re like brothers pretty much and to play with him along with 43 other teammates for the Fremantle Football Club will be amazing.”
