Western Bulldogs watching Fremantle Dockers midfielder Neil Erasmus ahead of trade period
According to a report, the Bulldogs have interest in the fourth-year midfielder, who has played 10 times for the Dockers this season.
Channel 7's Ryan Daniels revealed last month West Coast are watching the Subiaco product's progress.
He has played 33 matches for the Dockers since debuting in 2022 but has slipped down in the pecking order behind draft mate Matt Johnson and other midfielders, including Jaeger O'Meara and Nathan O'Driscoll in recent weeks.
The 21-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season.
According to AFL.com, the Dockers are working to have the midfielder extend his time at the club, but it is understood Erasmus will weigh up opportunity as a major factor in his decision.
The Bulldogs this week announced star Marcus Bontempelli has inked a four-year extension, but ageing midfielders Tom Liberatore and Adam Treloar could be close to the end of their careers.
Erasmus is a chance to return to the side for Saturday afternoon's western derby clash with the Eagles. Fremantle will weigh him up as a replacement for Johnson, who injured his ankle in Sunday's dramatic win over Collingwood.
Fremantle football boss Joe Brierty confirmed he was in the mix after collecting 21 disposals in Peel Thunder's loss to East Fremantle on Saturday.
'There's obviously a number of ways we can structure up the midfield team and allocate some flexibility,' he told SEN.
'Whether that's a Neil Erasmus coming in or Jeremy Sharp, Isaiah Dudley had a strong game.
'He can look to go forward and that can free up some of our forwards to spend some time around the ball.
'There's just a number of ways we can look to have some flexibility in our team.'
Erasmus has not played in either of the Dockers' two wins over Hawthorn at Optus Stadium or Collingwood at the MCG.
The Subiaco product made the intriguing move to sell a range of his match-worn Fremantle and Thunder merchandise, including the jumper he wore during his Simpson Medal-winning performance in last year's WAFL grand final.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Fremantle Dockers draftee Holly Egan to miss 2025 AFLW season after scans reveal ACL injury
Fremantle draftee Holly Egan has been ruled out of the upcoming AFLW season after scans revealed an ACL injury following their practice match win over West Coast. Egan was the Dockers' second pick in last year's draft, taken at No.34, with the Murray Bushrangers defender noted for her speed and athletic craft and has been trialled across half-back through the pre-season so far. However, the 19-year-old will now spend her first year in the rehabilitation group, with Fremantle's head of AFLW Claire Heffernan saying the club would support her as best they could. 'Football can be a tough sport at times, especially with Holly being a draftee,' Heffernan said. 'She has already made a significant impact on the group, not only with her football ability but also the connections she has made with her teammates and staff since arriving here. 'We are naturally all devastated for Holly and will do everything we can to support her during her recovery from this injury, which she will attack with the same tenacity and determination she has shown since joining the team.' Egan will be sent for surgery before a timeline for her return next season will be finalised. The Docker is the sister of Richmond star Grace Egan, who she credited for helping her make her way onto an AFLW list. 'She's helped me so much and I think that's what got me over the line this year,' Holly said earlier this year. 'My drive to want to be drafted, I think that's come from her.'
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Cruel ACL blow wrecks Dockers draftee's debut season
Fremantle draftee Holly Egan has been ruled out of the upcoming AFLW season after scans revealed an ACL injury following their practice match win over West Coast. Egan was the Dockers' second pick in last year's draft, taken at No.34, with the Murray Bushrangers defender noted for her speed and athletic craft and has been trialled across half-back through the pre-season so far. However, the 19-year-old will now spend her first year in the rehabilitation group, with Fremantle's head of AFLW Claire Heffernan saying the club would support her as best they could. 'Football can be a tough sport at times, especially with Holly being a draftee,' Heffernan said. 'She has already made a significant impact on the group, not only with her football ability but also the connections she has made with her teammates and staff since arriving here. Holly Egan in her Vic Country colours last year. Credit: Josh Chadwick / AFL Photos 'We are naturally all devastated for Holly and will do everything we can to support her during her recovery from this injury, which she will attack with the same tenacity and determination she has shown since joining the team.' Egan will be sent for surgery before a timeline for her return next season will be finalised. The Docker is the sister of Richmond star Grace Egan, who she credited for helping her make her way onto an AFLW list. 'She's helped me so much and I think that's what got me over the line this year,' Holly said earlier this year. 'My drive to want to be drafted, I think that's come from her.'
West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
Fremantle Dockers forward Murphy Reid rated equal best on ground by coaches during western derby
Exciting Fremantle youngster Murphy Reid would have tied for the Glendinning-Allan Medal if Justin Longmuir and Andrew McQualter were voting for the award after the western derby on Saturday. In another boost for his AFL Rising Star hopes, Reid polled eight votes for his 23 disposals, 15 score involvements and one goal. The half-forward finished third in Glendinning-Allan Medal voting behind Hayden Young and Andrew Brayshaw, but the AFL Coaches Association votes told a different story. Longmuir and McQualter were required to submit votes on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis and Reid was locked with Young on eight votes. While individual voting remains confidential, one coach gave Reid five votes and the other handed him three. Brayshaw and Michael Frederick both received six votes, while Caleb Serong and Shai Bolton had one vote each. Reid has had a wonderful first season in the AFL and is one of the favourites to win the Rising Star award. He is competing with Adelaide's Daniel Curtin and Brisbane's Levi Ashcroft for that prize. Longmuir said Reid's consistency had set him apart from the other contenders this season when speaking after the win and defender Jordan Clark said his teammate reminded him of Collingwood superstar Scott Pendlebury. 'It sounds like a bit unrealistic comparing him to Scotty Pendlebury but he is a player like that who is not blessed with super speed but he sees the game and is very sharp in his mind,' Clark told The West Australian. 'He sees the game very well and he's very clean. I think he did watch a lot of Scotty Pendlebury growing up, so he's a very classy little player. I think he's got a lovely mix that works for him. 'I don't want to use it loosely and it's probably disrespecting Scotty Pendlebury in a way because he's one of the greatest players in the game. 'But you watch him and he's in positions where you think someone shouldn't get out of that, but he does. He's not a fast bloke, he's not massively built, he's just clever and classy. I think he thinks and sees the game ahead before people see what is going to happen.' Collingwood's Nick Daicos extended his lead for the AFLCA award with a best on ground performance against Richmond. Noah Anderson is now four votes behind him after picking up eight votes in Gold Coast's win over Brisbane, Serong has dropped from third to fourth after Geelong's Bailey Smith overtook him and is now 14 votes behind Daicos with four games remaining.
