Geelong set to table big offer for Bulldog free agent Luke Dahlhaus
GEELONG is set to make a long-term offer to Western Bulldogs free agent Luke Dahlhaus in a bid to pry the smart goalkicking midfielder away from Whitten Oval.
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GEELONG will make a move on Western Bulldogs star midfielder-forward Luke Dahlhaus in the exchange period to help bolster its premiership aspirations next season.
The Cats are set to table a four-year deal for the clever goal kicker who can move to the Cattery for nothing as a free agent.
But Dahlhaus could face a slow start to the preseason as the former Geelong Falcon works to overcome a syndesmosis ankle injury.
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Dahlhaus’s departure would likely secure the Bulldogs a second-round draft pick as compensation, depending on his contract terms.
Versatile tall Jordan Roughead could also be on the way out of the kennel, as West Coast, Port Adelaide and St Kilda search for some ruck support.
The Dogs want to keep midfielder Mitch Wallis in the face of strong interest from Brisbane and Essendon, but key forward Jack Redpath is expected to retire.
Geelong wants former local product Dahlhaus, 26, to help increase its goal kicking power and defensive pressure in the forward half for next season.
The Bulldogs’ premiership star could also help replace four-time knee reconstruction Daniel Menzel who is being courted by St Kilda on a two-year deal.
Geelong wants to re-sign Menzel, but only on a one-year contract extension due to his horror injury history.
Dahlhaus is also a hardworking midfield runner who shone in the Bulldogs’ premiership year, finishing sixth in the 2016 best and fairest award.
But, like the rest of the Bulldogs, Dahlhaus’s form has tailed off over the past two seasons.
Dahlhaus’s arrival would be a massive boost for the Cats as veteran stars Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood, Harry Taylor and Tom Hawkins look to remain in the flag hunt in 2019.
Chris Scott wants to bolster the club’s midfield and small forward options after a string of repeated injury setbacks, in particular, to Cory Gregson and Lincoln McCarthy in recent years.
The Bulldogs have been keen to re-sign Dahlhaus, but have been unable to agree to terms with the 154-gamer.
The gun Bulldog suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the Round 18 loss to West Coast.
He averaged 21 possessions a game this year but was unable to have much of an impact on the scoreboard, booting only two goals for the season.
Senior coach Luke Beveridge said earlier in the year he hoped a deal would be done, but the club has been unsuccessful in its bid to win his signature.
“We know Luke is much required and loved player at our club, so all of us hope that a deal can get done,” Beveridge said.
Medical manager Chris Bell said Dahlhaus was unlikely to be able to return in the late part of the season.
“The mechanism of the injury has damaged the high ankle area, or the syndesmosis part of his ankle,” Bell said.
“This is notoriously slow to heal, and we expect at this stage for his recovery to take six to eight weeks, which is going to rule him out for the remainder of the season.”
Geelong may lose uncontracted midfielder George-Horlin Smith and fringe defender Jackson Thurlow in the exchange period.
Gold Coast is interested in Horlin-Smith.
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Originally published as Geelong set to table big offer for Bulldog free agent Luke Dahlhaus