Ready to roam: Dogs recruit Crameri in midfield mix
Stewart Crameri not happy to stay chained inside the forward 50
WESTERN Bulldogs recruit Stewart Crameri has started training with the midfield group in a bid to push up the ground next season.
The 25-year old was lured to the Dogs from Essendon during the trade period, as the club looked to strengthen its forward line.
But Crameri won't be pigeon-holed as a stay-at-home forward, and his interest running through the middle has been encouraged by his new club.
"I'm doing midfield stuff once a week now, so I'll hopefully get a hit-out in quarters, late in quarters, just to change it up," Crameri said on Wednesday.
"I think that will be an important role for the team. That will be a really good chance for me to have a go in the midfield, when I haven't had that chance for three or four years."
The club's newest additions have been allocated jumper numbers for season 2014, with Crameri to don No.8.
Highly-touted draft pick Marcus Bontempelli takes over the No.4 worn by Daniel Cross, who has moved to Melbourne.
South Australian Matt Fuller will wear No.36, while Mitchell Honeychurch has been given No.22, following Dylan Addison's departure to GWS.
Former Greater Western Sydney youngster Sam Darley, who will wear No.33, says he is thriving at his new club.
"The training load's probably been a little bit more," Darley said.
"Coming from the Giants, they were all young guys, 18, 19, 20. Now I've hit that 20 mark, and you've got those senior experienced players here, the training load's probably a little bit heavier. I've gone home and slept a few afternoons."