Bulldogs welcome back Ashton Hams for two years

SOUTH Fremantle's 2014 campaign has already received a massive boost with Ashton Hams signing on to return full-time to the Bulldogs after his time in the AFL with the West Coast Eagles came to an end.

The 27-year-old has already played 115 games with the Bulldogs including the 2005 and 2009 premierships, and the Simpson Medal from the 2009 grand final, and now will return to South Fremantle after he decided to end his AFL career following the end of the 2013 season.

Hams played 39 games with the Eagles over the last four years, but when he has been back playing with South Fremantle he has been a dominant figure both as a small forward and midfielder, and now he will be a valuable player once again for the Bulldogs after signing on for the next two years.

Hams, along with twin brother Kyle, arrived originally at South Fremantle from Busselton and after taking part in the successful colts team of 2003 and reserves of 2004, settled in the league line-up in the premiership year of 2005 and never looked back from there.

Both brothers became permanent members of the defensive unit and were part of the premiership of 2005 and then again in 2009, but by this stage Ashton was moved into the midfield and spent some time up forward also.

He subsequently won the Simpson Medal for his effort in the grand final win of 2009 against Subiaco and that put him on the radar of AFL clubs, and it was the West Coast Eagles who snaffled him up.

Hams still played nine matches with South Fremantle in 2010 and then 11 in 2011 where he had such a marked impact on the Bulldogs that he still finished runner-up in the fairest and best count despite not taking part in nine games.

Hams played 11 AFL games for the Eagles in 2010, four in 2011 and then 16 in 2012 which limited him to just two for South Fremantle last year, but this year he managed just the eight AFL matches and in his nine with South Fremantle, he was simply outstanding.

It included 31 possessions and two goals in the thumping Foundation Derby win over East Fremantle, 35 possessions in Round 18 in the win over eventual premiers West Perth and 31 touches and six goals in the Round 22 win over Peel Thunder.

Hams dominated the competition in the games he played in 2013 for South Fremantle and now the club is delighted to have him on board for the next two years which should see him earn life membership by reaching 150 games, and hopefully add to his growing resume of accomplishments.

By Chris Pike