Lachie Hunter has been traded to the Melbourne Demons. Photo: afl.com.au Design: Will Cuckson
Melbourne has made yet another acquisition in its pushback towards the Grand Final, securing classy Western Bulldogs wingman Lachie Hunter. Hunter has joined the club in exchange for a future third-round selection.
Drafted with pick 49 under the AFL’s father-son program back in 2012, Hunter has played 173 matches for the Bulldogs, including the 2016 premiership victory.
After a positive start to life with the Western Bulldogs, Hunter didn’t have the 2022 season he would have liked, missing games through personal reasons and injury, as well as a slump in form. The 28-year-old will be hoping for a fresh start with Melbourne and can play a vital role in boosting the side up the ladder in future years with his strong foot skills.
Adding Experience:
Having defeated the side that Hunter is joining from in the 2021 Grand Final, Melbourne was flying at 10-0, and despite a few minor hiccups in the back half of the year, still managed to finish in the top four after the home and away season.
Despite not winning a final, Melbourne still has a lot of strength within the side, and adding Hunter’s experience and class is something that could see them continue at the top of the table in future seasons.
Having played more than 150 games at the top level across the past 10 seasons, Hunter’s level of experience will assist the side in finals campaigns, which has been proven to be successful, as recently as the 2022 premiership.
With multiple finals appearances under his belt, Hunter can help pass on knowledge to Melbourne’s youngsters and keep the club in the mix for many years to come.
Where does Hunter fit in the Melbourne side?
With Hunter coming across to the Melbourne side, he will be looking to claim what is somewhat of a vacant spot on the wing, with Ed Langdon having locked down one side of the ground.
It is set to be an interesting summer period for the Melbourne midfield contingent, with several players vying for the position. These include the likes of Tom Sparrow, James Jordon, and Alex Neal-Bullen all in the mix for the slot.
If Hunter can reignite his form from previous seasons which has seen him be a previous winner of the Charles Sutton Medal and link up well with star midfielders such as Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, Melbourne will be amongst the premiership favourites yet again.
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