A premiership defender is reportedly a chance to join a record-equalling fifth AFL club this off-season.
Meanwhile, three Bombers’ futures beyond this year are cloudy as the trio remain without 2026 contract offers.
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SWAN COULD JOIN FIFTH CLUB
Depth Sydney defender Joel Hamling is thought to have interest from the Giants ahead of this off-season.
According to AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich, GWS is considering the 32-year-old Hamling — who’s yet to receive a contract offer from the Swans — to boost its defensive stocks following the anticipated departure of intercept backman Leek Aleer in October.
Hamling, an unrestricted free agent, has played 14 senior games this season; the most he’s played at the level since he played 22 for the Dockers back in 2019.
But the tall utility remains behind fellow key defenders Dane Rampe, Tom McCartin and Lewis Melican, with Nick Blakey also able to play tall in Dean Cox’s backline.
With star Giants defenders Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley each having suffered injuries at different points this year, the need for depth coverage has been evident for Adam Kingsley’s brigade.
Hamling was drafted by Geelong in 2011 but couldn’t manage a senior match, going on to play in the Western Bulldogs’ 2016 premiership triumph before playing six seasons with Fremantle then joining the Swans ahead of 2024.
Gabelich added that Essendon’s Jayden Laverde, Hawthorn’s Sam Frost and Richmond’s Jacob Koschitzke were other names on the Giants’ radar.
‘The pressure is on them too!’: Longmuir | 01:38
YOUNG BOMBERS IN LIMBO
A trio of young Bombers have yet to receive contract offers from Essendon for next year amid looming crunch calls on the list.
Defender Jaxon Prior and forward Ben Hobbs remain unsigned and reportedly haven’t yet been offered new deals as list boss Matt Rosa and company navigate a host of uncontracted names.
Hobbs, 21, was a first-round draft pick in 2021 and has played 18 senior games this year and 65 in total across four seasons at Tullamarine. He is a non-free agent, meaning any departure would have to either come via trade or at the drafts.
“Clubs are aware (Hobbs) hasn’t received an offer and is definitely gettable,” journalist Callum Twomey told AFL Media’s Gettable.
“I’m not sure if he gets a new deal at the Bombers — I think that’s still to be worked out in coming weeks.
“Like a couple of midfielders there, it’s very uncertain on what the future holds for these guys. It’s not a good time to be out of contract at the Bombers, because there are so many list changes that have to happen.”
Prior, in his first year at Essendon since signing as a delisted free agent from Brisbane, is one of just four Bombers to have played all 21 games this year, playing a mid-sized stopper role for coach Brad Scott.
Co-host Riley Beveridge added that the pacy Luamon Lual has also yet to be offered a new contract at Bomberland.
Lual has been a revelation in Scott’s side since debuting, with the 20-year-old playing every game since coming into the side in Round 13. It would be a shock to most if the no.39 pick from 2023 wasn’t offered a new deal, given the glimpses he’s shown.
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