Joel Hamling Biography

Sydney recruit Joel Hamling says he left the Dockers after being offered a contract by Fremantle that he considered "disrespectful".

"I really enjoyed my time at Freo, they're a good club. But I don't think they thought anyone else would take me," he said.

"So they gave me a contract, it's probably bottom end but then someone else (Sydney) popped up. And then Freo come back with (an offer of) two years, but it didn't eventuate.

"I sort of had enough in the end and it was time to get out of there. So yeah, I packed up and took off to my fourth club."

Joel Hamling joins Sydney as an unrestricted free agent after turning down a one-year deal with Fremantle.

Joel Hamling is seeking further external medical advice as he searches for answers on his troublesome ankle.

Hamling has had two surgeries on a left ankle he first dislocated in February but remains no closer to AFL action after a series of delays including a bout of infection that has delayed further surgery.

Nat Fyfe will continue as captain for the fourth straight season after the Dockers named an unchanged leadership group for 2020.

Fyfe will be supported by veteran David Mundy, star Michael Walters, key defenders Alex Pearce and Joel Hamling, and Reece Conca.

"I think it's a great decision by the playing group to stick with the exact leadership group in 2020," Fyfe said.

"It shows that what the guys delivered in terms of setting the standards and leading in the right direction was on track.

"I think the six guys that we've got in there with Michael Walters, David Mundy, Joel Hamling, Reece Conca, Alex Pearce and myself, there's good touch points across the whole group."

Joel Hamling is expected to miss the first half of 2020 after undergoing surgery for a dislocated left ankle, one week after suffering the injury in a training incident.

"Until he's out of that immobilisation period we can't even put a timeframe on his return, but it is a significant injury," Dockers football manager Peter Bell said.

Fremantle opts to send Joel Hamling for surgery on his injured left ankle.

"The advice we have from the specialist is that the surgery, which went very well, will not prolong Joel's recovery period," Dockers football manager Peter Bell said.

"Joel will have a period of immobilisation, after which we will be better placed to determine a time frame for his return to full training."

Joel Hamling is set to miss the start of the 2020 season after suffering significant damage to the ligaments in his left ankle.

"Joel landed heavily on his left ankle after contesting a mark at training on Monday and was sent for scans, which confirmed the nature of the injury," Dockers general manager of football Peter Bell said.

"He will be further assessed by a specialist, after which we will have a more accurate estimate of the recovery time Joel's injury will require."

Luke Ryan believes Dockers teammates Alex Pearce and Joel Hamling deserve to be rated up there with the AFL's best key defensive duos after their impressive form so far in 2019.

Freo ranks second for fewest points conceded (457) and both Pearce and Hamling have been mentioned in early All Australian conversations.

"It's a pretty good combo, they're both young, haven't played that many games as of yet, to see what they're doing now is pretty special," Ryan said.

"The way they're playing at the moment, it's pretty hard to get past them.

"Joel and Alex have been playing super this year, to keep them out on the field and them playing the way they are is going to be good for us in the long term."

Joel Hamling signs a four-year contract extension with Fremantle to remain at the club until the end of 2023.

"I'm honoured to be a part of the club for the next five years and really getting stuck into my role," Hamling said.

"I'm feeling really good about my footy, I've had a full pre-season this year. It's season eight for me now, so I'm really comfortable in my body and ability."

Nat Fyfe will lead the Dockers for a third season as skipper in 2019, while Joel Hamling joins off-season recruit Reece Conca as a new leader, with David Mundy, Michael Walters and Alex Pearce making up the rest of the group.

Veteran ruckman Aaron Sandilands has stepped aside after a 10-year stint.

Joel Hamling hopes veteran defender Michael Johnson plays on in 2018 to help guide the Dockers' young backline.

"I've had some good old guys in my career (like) Harry Taylor and he stacks up with them, even Dale Morris - he's up there with them two," Hamling said.

"I would love to have Johnno around again, of course. Everyone at the club loves Johnno, he's a great leader and off the field."

Shane Kersten is back in full training with the Dockers following a bout of food poisoning, but defender Joel Hamling was still absent from the track after also being struck down by a dodgy pizza.

In the latest episode in Freo's eventful pre-season, the prized recruits and close mates were sidelined from main training last week after eating pizza from a local restaurant.

Former Western Bulldogs premiership defender Hamling's illness was serious enough for him to be admitted to hospital, although the 23-year-old has since returned to the club on light duties.

The lure of returning to Western Australia was too strong for Fremantle recruit Joel Hamling to turn his back on, with the defender wanting to be closer to his ill father.

Hamling, 23, won a premiership with the Western Bulldogs this year but sought a trade to the Dockers a fortnight after the drought-breaking flag.

"It was a massive decision for me. I didn't take it lightly. I took a few weeks to decide and after the Grand Final, with all the emotion that I had for the team at the Bulldogs, they're such great guys," Hamling said.

"The best thing for my football was to get back home to WA with family and friends as well."

Shane Kersten has revealed he and best mate Joel Hamling discussed the prospect of returning home to play for a West Australian team several times throughout the year.

That dream became a reality when former Geelong forward Kersten and Western Bulldogs premiership defender Hamling secured moves to the Dockers during the NAB AFL Trade Period.

"We had the odd chat every now and again and we both obviously knew what we had ahead of us and the opportunity the Fremantle Football Club was willing to give us. I think we both made the right decision," Kersten said.

"It was only two years ago that I was playing alongside him and then to be given this opportunity back in our home state to play alongside each other at Fremantle is something pretty special."

Joel Hamling joins Fremantle in a trade with the Bulldogs, effectively in exchange for pick No.35.

The Dockers sent pick 35, 43 and 61 to the Bulldogs in exchange for Hamling, pick 40 and pick 63.

“Joel’s really grown physically over the past couple of years and we think there is more growth in him as a player,” Fremantle general manager of list management Brad Lloyd said.

“He is a promising key defender who we believe will come in and be a long-term player for Fremantle.”

Joel Hamling is set to leave the Western Bulldogs after deciding to return to WA to play for Fremantle.

"I think Joel's been considering coming back throughout the year and then obviously with the way the Bulldogs went clouded the decision a bit more," Fremantle list manager Brad Lloyd told 6PR.

"But he's indicated to us he'd like to get back to Western Australia and play for Fremantle, which is fantastic news."

Joel Hamling is weighing up an offer to return home to Western Australia to play with Fremantle.

Despite being part of the Bulldogs' historic premiership, Hamling played just 12 games in 2016 after managing 11 in 2015, and is no walk-up start in the Bulldogs' defence.

"It's still a bit raw, he is a premiership player, he's still enjoying the flag, and he's still socializing with the boys that were in the 22," Hamling's manager Colin Young said.

"If he was playing with Fremantle, he's probably an absolute certainty to play every game.

"But there's no guarantee he's going to make the decision to go to Fremantle."

Joel Hamling's versatility has been an advantage as he seeks to establish a regular spot in the Bulldogs' defence since moving from Geelong.

Hamling says he has no regrets about his time at the Cats despite being delisted without playing a senior game.

"I look at it as a bit of apprenticeship, really," Hamling said.

"Being six foot four (193cm) and 79 kilograms when I first arrived at Geelong and playing with a pretty handy backline of Harry Taylor, Tom Lonergan, James Kelly, Andrew Mackie and Corey Enright, I wasn't quite up to it at that stage – well not in that team anyway.

"I'm really close to Lonergan and Taylor and they taught me a lot of their knowledge and now I can come in and make an impact. It's been really important for my development."

Joel Hamling makes his AFL debut for the Western Bulldogs at Docklands Stadium with 16 disposals (10 kicks and 6 handballs), 7 marks and a tackle in a 45-point win over GWS.

The Western Bulldogs have added to their key defensive stocks by signing former Cat Joel Hamling as a delisted free agent.

Hamling, who stands 194cm, failed to play a senior game in three seasons with Geelong.

"Getting in another key defender was important for us, and Joel adds a different dynamic to that group with his raw athleticism," Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney said.

"Joel has been part of an elite development program at Geelong, and having watched closely throughout the year, we believe he is not far away from playing good consistent AFL football."

Geelong delist Taylor Hunt, Mitch Brown and Joel Hamling.

"We thank Taylor, Mitch and Joel for their efforts over their time at the club and wish them every success in their future endeavours," Geelong football manager Neil Balme said.

Geelong re-sign young key position players Shane Kersten and Joel Hamling.