Joel Hamling has officially joined the Fremantle Dockers, traded along with picks No.40 and No.63, with the Western Bulldogs receiving in return picks No.35, No.43, and No. 61.
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Fremantle list manager Brad Lloyd said:
“Joel’s really grown physically over the past couple of years and we think there is more growth in him as a player,” Lloyd said.
“He is a promising key defender who we believe will come in and be a long-term player for Fremantle.”
Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney said:
“We thank Joel for his contribution over the past two years and wish him all the best for his future with Fremantle.
“We believe we have reached a fair and equitable deal for Joel, and will keep our options open as to what we do with our picks ahead of the trade deadline on Thursday.”
The deal certainly looks to be a good get for the Dockers on the surface, so long as Hamling continues to develop and consistently puts up the kind of form he showed in this season’s finals series.
The Western Bulldogs ultimately receive little in return for the loss except for a late second rounder and shuffling of other picks – so they’ll look to once again find a star a little later down the draft order.
While they haven’t exactly made a big profit out of the deal, one could argue it’s a pretty good return for a player they picked up as a delisted free agent just two years ago.
Roarers, who do you think wins this trade? For every trade this off-season, we’re asking you to rate the trade – vote below, and we’ll release all the results at the end of trade period.
13th Man
Guest
Hahaha lol I am in the UK right now and its either Mother or Mummy, both sound to upperclass for my liking so I still use Mum. Still call them thongs not flip flops and an esky not a cool box
dave
Guest
I was already looking forward to 2017 just because we get Fyfe,Bennell,Sandi playing.I don't want to place too much hopes on Johnson.Fantastic for Freo but maybe better If we learn to play without him. Imagine he plays perfect all year and then just before finals does an injury and we are lost without him,The same could be said for Sandilands. Anyway just having these guys back gives me hope,the trades and draft are just icing on the cake.
dave
Guest
Haha sorry I live In Indonesia and Its always Mamma or Ibu,I get a little bit confused sometimes. I hope I didn't spoil your day.
rusty
Roar Rookie
I am also unconvinced on Hamling. I think we overpaid a bit and would have been happier with paying about pick 45 up. There are still some handy draftees in the 20-40 range. Blakely went pick 26? I believe. Anyway, it is what it is. All up a very good trade period for Fremantle and kills the notion that no one wants to play for Ross Lyon. The players love him. Wish we had a pick in the 20's though to hopefully get Logue but he will be gone by then. Really hope we don't go for English. Crazy getting a ruckman with pick 7.
Don Freo
Guest
We've been telling you that all year. Have you just started reading what we've been saying?
anon
Guest
Fair enough. I don't think any team is on the level of Hawthorn 2014-15. They were stand outs playing a unique brand of football that suited them and no-one else. Hawthorn has come back to the field, so there's no stand out number one team. Contested ball is back in vogue. As usual, everyone overreacted to the rule changes at the start of 2016 with Ross Lyon being the worst culprit. Freo were number one for contested ball in 2015. That was done on the back of Fyfe, Mundy, Neale, Sandilands, Barlow, S Hill In 2017 all of them will be back, with the addition of B Hill and Bennell. Plus the players will have had 18 months exposure to the evolved game plan come April 2017, Lyon is taking a more hands on role with his coaching. I can't think of any more excuses for them.
mattyb
Guest
Johno,after the events of the past week I think we can clearly now put an asterisk next to any comments that suggest no player would want to play under Lyon,it's clearly a myth that's been well and truly busted.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I agree! As someone who's lived in 3 Australian states and overseas, I've experienced my fair share of linguistic varieties. I naturally began to adopt some of the linguistics whilst living in different places, but now I'm living in Adelaide I don't use American (where I've lived) language just to feel part of the "global community". Sorry, but that's a crap argument, Cat.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
It's called cautious optimism. The competition has never been more even, in my opinion, and I'm fully expecting an challenge to return to finals next season. It's a challenge I'm looking forward to watching and supporting Freo through, though. Top 8 is realistic, anon. I'm just not taking it for granted.
Don Freo
Guest
That was no one's excuse, anon. It was not that it takes time. It was that it needs its leading players to be there. Sandi, Fyfe, Bennell weren't there. Mundy missed many games early. These are their drivers...and guess what? They're baaack! I'm not at all sure you know they have been missing. (Remember Alex Pearce?)
anon
Guest
"Personally, I am not expecting Top 4. I’m not fully expecting finals. If we make it, fantastic. But I feel like you’re placing unworthy expectations on them just so you can joyously celebrate when they Freo doesn’t fulfil them. That would be the Anon mantra, wouldn’t it?" So 12 months after making a prelim and with what is now a much better midfield, you don't think even top 8 is realistic?? What are you guys paying Lyon for?
Balthazar
Guest
No, not McCarthy but we were trading for him last year before the team reworked the trade strategy. Yeah, Brad Hill is a B/B+ for me
anon
Guest
Compare that midfield to the 2015 one that finished minor premier? Has is improved? Absolutely. The excuse last year was it takes time to implement the new game plan. The players will have had 18 months exposure to the new game plan come April 2017, so there's no more excuses left.
mattyb
Guest
Soon we will be taking vacations instead of holidays,jumping into hot tubs instead of the spa and walking along the sidewalk rather than the footpath. Eroding our language is a pretty unnecessary way of stepping into the global world.
I hate pies
Guest
Bollocks Cat. Having your own language and culture doesn't make you a backwater. I guarantee other countries aren't mimicking us because they're part of "global community".
Cat
Roar Guru
Welcome to being a part of the global community instead of an isolated backwater.
I hate pies
Guest
...and men refer to each other as "guys" instead of "blokes".
I hate pies
Guest
Yep. It is a big deal. It's slowly eroding our language. The Americanisms are death by a thousand cuts. One instance is ok, but it starts with "mom", then a ute is a "truck" and all of a sudden people are going to the "bathroom" instead of the toilet.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Optimism is something that we surely needed. I'm ridiculously impressed with the trades that Freo has completed, and I'm sure looking forward to next year!
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Hahaha, yup. It ain't that big a deal, is it?