Joel Hamling (born 9 April 1993) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL). Hamling previously played for the Western Bulldogs from 2015 to 2016 and Fremantle between 2017 and 2023, after initially being drafted to Geelong in the 2011 AFL draft.

Joel Hamling
Personal information
Full name Joel Hamling
Nickname(s) Hammer
Date of birth (1993-04-09) 9 April 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Denmark, Western Australia
Original team(s) Claremont (WAFL)
Cable Beach (WKFA)
Draft No. 32, 2011 national draft
Height 194 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 92 kg (203 lb)
Position(s) Key defender/Key Forward
Club information
Current club Sydney
Number 29
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2012–2014 Geelong 00 (0)
2015–2016 Western Bulldogs 23 (0)
2017–2023 Fremantle 68 (0)
2024 Sydney 00 (0)
Total 91 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 11, 2024.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life and junior football

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Of Yorta Yorta indigenous descent,[1] Hamling was born in Denmark, Western Australia, but was brought up in Broome.[2][3] Hamling played colts (Under 18) for Claremont in the WAFL.

Hamling was recruited by the Geelong Football Club with pick 32 in the 2011 national draft. After three years with Geelong without playing a senior match, he joined the Western Bulldogs as a delisted free agent at the end of the 2014 season.[4] Hamling made his debut in round 9, 2015, against Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium.[5] Hamling was a part of the Western Bulldogs premiership team in 2016. Following the 2016 AFL season he returned home to Western Australia when he was traded to the Fremantle Football Club.[6]

Hamling missed the entire 2020 season due to an ankle injury. Hamling only played one game during the 2021 season after he re-injured the same ankle in round one against Melbourne and had to undergo ankle surgery in July 2021. Hamling made his return in round 2 of the 2022 AFL season during Fremantle's clash against St Kilda.[7]

Following the 2023 AFL season, Hamling signed with the Sydney Swans as an unrestricted free agent.[8]

Statistics

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Statistics are correct to the end of 2023[9]
Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals 
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds 
  H  
Handballs 
  M  
Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2015 Western Bulldogs 30 11 0 0 64 47 111 53 15 0.0 0.0 5.8 4.3 10.1 4.8 1.4 0
2016# Western Bulldogs 30 12 0 0 67 59 126 43 16 0.0 0.0 5.6 4.9 10.5 3.6 1.3 0
2017 Fremantle 21 22 0 0 126 142 268 110 42 0.0 0.0 5.7 6.5 12.2 5.0 1.9 0
2018 Fremantle 21 18 0 0 129 114 243 106 21 0.0 0.0 7.2 6.3 13.5 5.9 1.2 2
2019 Fremantle 21 22 0 0 137 97 234 111 25 0.0 0.0 6.2 4.4 10.6 5.0 1.1 0
2020[a] Fremantle 21 0
2021 Fremantle 21 1 0 0 3 7 10 0 1 0.0 0.0 3.0 7.0 10.0 0.0 1.0 0
2022 Fremantle 21 1 0 0 6 4 10 4 0 0.0 0.0 6.0 4.0 10.0 4.0 0.0 0
2023 Fremantle 21 4 0 0 18 27 45 17 4 0.0 0.0 4.5 6.8 11.3 4.3 1.0
Career 91 0 0 550 497 1047 444 124 0.0 0.0 6.0 5.5 11.5 4.9 1.4 2

Notes

  1. ^ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

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  1. ^ AFL Players Indigenous Map 2023
  2. ^ "Hamling comes of age". 4 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Hamling revives fond memories".
  4. ^ Waterworth, Ben (2 November 2014). "Joel Hamling signs with Western Bulldogs as delisted free agent". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  5. ^ Bulldogs, Western (1 June 2015). "Long Time Coming". WB. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  6. ^ Ryan, Peter (18 October 2016). "Dogs premiership hero Joel Hamling becomes a Docker". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  7. ^ "Hamling back in purple after 372 days". Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  8. ^ @AFLHouse (9 October 2023). "The AFL has received and approved paperwork for Unrestricted Free Agent Joel Hamling to sign with the Sydney Swans" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "Joel Hamling". AFL Tables. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
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