A year after first trial, Dockers punt on tall Irishman
Sean Hurley signed by Freo 12 months after he first trialled with the club
FREMANTLE has signed Irishman Sean Hurley as an international rookie 12 months after he trialled with the club.
The 22-year-old Gaelic footballer from County Kildare spent two weeks training with the Dockers last November but the club elected not to add him to its rookie list.
Twelve months on, Fremantle has confirmed it will sign the 196cm Irishman as a category B rookie.
Hurley will arrive in Perth next month in preparation to start pre-season training on November 17.
He is the latest Irishman to be recruited to an AFL club.
The Dockers have only made minor adjustments to their list since losing to Port Adelaide in this year’s semi-final.
Kepler Bradley and Scott Gumbleton have both retired but veteran defender Luke McPharlin will play on, with his new contract expected to be finalised within a week.
Fremantle delisted rookies Sam Menegola and Michael Wood last week.
The future of Josh Simpson is still unclear. The 20-year-old was granted an indefinite leave of absence from the club after several incidents in which he failed to meet club requirements.
Simpson missed a flight to Sydney after being selected as the travelling emergency in round five.
He was stood down from playing AFL and WAFL football before returning to play three matches in the WAFL with Peel Thunder.
In June, the club announced he would take an indefinite leave of absence to undertake a personal development program designed to address both personal and professional matters outside of football.
There has been no announcement since on his future at Fremantle in 2015.
Simpson has played just two matches in his short career at Fremantle since being selected with pick No. 17 in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft.
GETTABLE: AFL's 'biggest ever deal' tabled, Tassie list gurus on targets, Hawks squeeze
Cal Twomey and Riley Beveridge discuss the latest trade and draft news and are joined by Tasmania Devils' newly appointed list bosses Derek Hine and Todd Patterson.
43:33
ROUND TABLE: Damo's take on Rioli situation, will Smith's antics become a distraction?
Start your hump day with the latest news in the world of footy plus more with Nat Edwards, Damian Barrett, Josh Gabelich and Sarah Olle
01:30
Do the Bulldogs have the deepest midfield in the comp?
Damian Barrett and Matthew Lloyd discuss the Bulldogs' big win over Port Adelaide in Ballarat and who they believe is back in All-Australian form.
05:52
Footy Feed
Footy Feed
Bevo responds to Baz, Pies rest stars, Swans ready for Don
Footy Feed: Sarah Olle and Nat Edwards with the latest news