Bulldogs welcome back Jarrod Garlett

THE South Fremantle Football Club is delighted to announce the return of Jarrod Garlett from the Gold Coast Suns in the AFL with the exciting small forward signing with the Bulldogs for the next two WAFL seasons.

It is another exciting announcement from South Fremantle heading towards 2017 with the Bulldogs looking to build on a strong 2016 season.

South Fremantle won 15 games to finish second at the end of the 2016 home and away season before beating West Perth in a qualifying final and only coming up short against Peel Thunder in the preliminary final at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

With the majority of the playing group now set to return in 2017 aside from those who will either be picked up by AFL clubs in the upcoming National and Rookie Drafts, the signs are pointing towards another exciting season for the Bulldogs.

Already announced has been the return of 2009 premiership forward Cory Dell’Olio who has recommitted to the Bulldogs for the next two seasons after being unable to play in 2016 through suspension.

Another South Fremantle product Jermaine Miller-Lewis will also return to the Bulldogs in 2017 after spending the past two seasons in the AFL with Hawthorn.

Now on top of the announcement of the return of Garlett, South Fremantle has secured the signature of East Fremantle ruckman Jake Solomon while state midfielder Tim Kelly has re-signed for a further two seasons.

Garlett burst on to the scene in South Fremantle’s colts in 2013 including 21 possessions and two goals in the colts grand final loss of that year to Claremont.

He then had a standout 2014 starting in the colts before playing with WA State 18s and then making his league debut later in the season. He ended up being taken with selection No. 15 by Gold Coast in the 2014 AFL Draft.

Over the last two years, he has played 17 AFL matches and kicking 10 goals. But following the 2016 season he informed the Suns that he wished to return home for personal reasons.

The 20-year-old was granted his wish and released from his contract with South Fremantle now gladly welcoming back for the next two seasons before he can hopefully receive another opportunity in the AFL.

Solomon is a 197cm, 98kg ruckman from East Fremantle who has also joined South Fremantle for 2017.

Having played 16 colts matches for the Sharks in 2013, he has gone on to play 38 reserves matches the past three seasons and breaking through for two league appearances in 2016.

The 21-year-old is an exciting addition to South Fremantle’s big man stocks for 2016.

The signature of Kelly was also an important one for the Bulldogs after his outstanding 2016 season. Kelly represented WA for the first time in 2016 during the record-breaking state game win over Tasmania.

He had a tremendous year all-round for South Fremantle averaging 20.3 possessions a game to become one of the best midfielders in the competition. The 22-year-old has now played 70 WAFL games and is entering the prime of his career.