Joel Hamling requests trade to Fremantle, Bulldogs rejig defensive plans

THE Western Bulldogs will rejig their backline for next year’s premiership defence after Grand Final hero Joel Hamling requested a trade to Fremantle.

Joel Hamling is returning to Western Australia. Picture: Michael Klein

THE Western Bulldogs will rejig their backline for next year’s premiership defence after Grand Final hero Joel Hamling requested a trade to Fremantle.

The key defender made the tough call to leave the Dogs two weeks after his crucial shutdown role on Sydney superstar Lance Franklin helped break the Dogs’ 62-year premiership drought.

His departure means the Dogs will strive hard to keep fellow defender Marcus Adams, who is also keen on a move home to Western Australia for personal reasons.

Adams, 23, starred in the early part of the season before he was struck down with a nasty foot injury. He is seen as Hamling’s natural replacement in the Bulldogs’ backline for 2017.

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West Coast has confirmed it has strong interest in Adams, but the Dogs are reluctant to trade out a second key defender and will likely retain the strong-bodied backman for next season.

Hamling, 23, wanted to move to Perth to be closer to his ill father and is expected to sign a three-year deal with the Dockers worth about $1.2 million.

Fremantle, which has pick No. 35 in next month’s draft, will try to strike a deal with the Dogs for Hamling when club officials meet for trade talks on Monday.

Dockers’ list chief Brad Lloyd says Fremantle’s top pick — No. 7 — is off the table.

Lloyd said the Dockers were thrilled to welcome the 194cm defender.

“With the Grand Final celebrations it has been more difficult (for Hamling) to come to a decision, but he has indicated to us that he would like to get back to Western Australia and play for Fremantle, which is fantastic news,” Lloyd said.

“He did a really good job through the finals and he is only 23 years of age and really growing as a player.”

Joel Hamling flies for a courageous mark in the Grand Final.

Hamling will fill a crucial key defensive role for the Dockers who have missed out on a string of top-line trade targets including Richmond’s Alex Rance and Bomber Cale Hooker.

Hamling spent the past week in Perth along with Geelong forward and close friend Shane Kersten, who has also requested a trade to Fremantle.

Hamling spent three seasons at Geelong before he was delisted at the end of 2014 and picked up on the cheap by the Dogs as a free agent.

The Dockers have been closely tracking the 23-gamer all season.

Bulldogs’ teammate Zaine Cordy is also expected to slot back into defence and help cover Hamling’s departure next season after fulfilling a surprise forward role at the Kennel in the premiership triumph.

Cordy’s shift into the backline in 2017 will help make room in attack for returning goalkicker Stewart Crameri and Collingwood premiership spearhead Travis Cloke.

Cloke, 29, is waiting on the Dogs to strike a deal with Collingwood that will send the veteran forward to the Whitten Oval on a three-year contract.

The Dogs do not want to hand over a draft pick earlier than selection No. 75.

Collingwood wants an earlier selection that will bolster its draft points to help secure father-son prospects Callum Brown and Josh Daicos.