Hasleby, Hall to lead Rams' finals charge
After a relatively quiet off season recruiting-wise, Northampton has secured the services of Paul Hasleby and South Fremantle teammate Tyler Hall. And not for just a couple of matches.
The two will play for the Rams for the bulk of the GNFL season, adding much needed quality and experience to their young side.
Hasleby will play predominantly in the Rams forward line, while Hall, a tall key position player, will likely drift between centre-half-forward and centre-half-back.
Hall has played both league and reserves for South Fremantle and was a reserves premiership captain with the club in 2013.
The speedy, hard-running tall should add plenty for the Rams, especially in the absence of Riley Craig after he broke his neck in a surfing accident in Bali and will likely miss the entire season.
Hasleby said he had enjoyed the few games he played for Northampton over the past few years and was looking forward to contributing for his original club.
“I love coming back to play for Northampton and a big career highlight for me was playing in Kasey’s (Hasleby) 200th and getting the win over Brigades that night,” he said.
“Now that I’m free of other commitments I thought why not come back and play while I still can.
“It’ll be a good chance to see the family a bit more often as well.”
Hall said work has taken him away from WAFL level, and after meeting with Northampton coach Greg O’Malley last week, said he was keen to assist in the club taking the next step towards finals footy.
“Obviously I already knew Paul and Kingsley (Smith) from time at South Fremantle, but the way the club approached me it seemed they were going about things the right way and hopefully I’ll be able to contribute not just on field but with some leadership and direction as well,” he said.
O’Malley was pleased to have the pair on board, and hoped they could provide direction for his wealth of young players.
“We’re over the moon to have players with that sort of experience come on board and they’ll be great for teaching our young blokes as well,” he said.
“They’ll bring that bit of professionalism to the club and set the right example and they’re going to be training whenever possible as well so they’re not just coming up, playing their game and going back to Perth."
O’Malley added that a mix of attitude and application was the way the Rams were going to make the climb out of the depths of the GNFL ladder.
“You can have all the blokes you want but if you’re not fit and not a hard-working side you’re not going to get anywhere, so that’s what we’re aiming for,” O’Malley said.
