The official Sam Reid/Daniel Currie Memorial Eker Thread

[FrediKanoute]

Shall we run a poll to change to name of this thread?

[josie]

Shall we run a poll to change to name of this thread?

I’m supporting recognition of Soupy in thread title.

[jazzadogs]

If Hamling gets to a fifth club, that's good ekin!

SWAN ON GIANTS' RADAR

JOEL Hamling is being considered by a fifth AFL club, with Greater Western Sydney preparing to replenish its key defensive stocks later this year.

With Leek Aleer and Wade Derksen both expected to land at new homes in October, the Giants have been gauging the availability of readymade options across the competition ahead of 2026.

Sam Taylor, Jack Buckley, Connor Idun and Harry Himmelberg are all crucial cogs in the Giants' defence, but the Giants need more coverage in the event of long-term injuries.
GWS isn't expected to trade for a key defender, but is poised to make a move during the delisted free agency windows, rookie draft or pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP).

Hamling has played 14 times for Sydney in 2025 for a total of 105 games since being drafted by Geelong in 2011, but is yet to receive a contract from the Swans for next year.

The West Australian played in the 2016 premiership for the Western Bulldogs, then added 68 games for Fremantle before being signed by the Swans as an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2023.

Only three players in VFL/AFL history have played a game for five clubs – Dale Kickett, Les Abbott and Les Hughson – and only 13 have played for four in the AFL era, with Tom Campbell now at a fourth club but yet to play for Melbourne.

Essendon's Jayden Laverde, Hawthorn's Sam Frost and Richmond's Jacob Koschitzke are some of the other names the Giants have been looking at.

[ledge]

Does Hamling take over from Campbell now ? Games played is more and years on list is also more.

[ledge]

Shall we run a poll to change to name of this thread?

Could make it the Hamling / Campbell thread as they both have links to the dogs . Both being involved in flags with us too . AFL /VFL

[Axe Man]

Does Hamling take over from Campbell now ? Games played is more and years on list is also more.

That makes no sense - more games played is a negative for an eker. Long tenures combined with small game tallies is what separates eker royalty from your run of the mill eker.

Hamling isn't the same eker class as the likes of Campbell. Signed a reasonably big deal at Freo and probably would have played 200 games if not for injury.

[Sedat]

That makes no sense - more games played is a negative for an eker. Long tenures combined with small game tallies is what separates eker royalty from your run of the mill eker.

Hamling isn't the same eker class as the likes of Campbell. Signed a reasonably big deal at Freo and probably would have played 200 games if not for injury.

I reckon ruckmen should be handicapped as it is far easier to eke for many years as a back-up ruckman. Irrespective, Campbell is the rolled gold standard of ruckmen ekers.

Key defenders are also more eke-able but not as much as ruckmen. It is very impressive if Hamling gets a contract at GWS and continues on his AFEL journey.

For mine Sam Reid has been the best eker in history relative to his position.

[Axe Man]

I reckon ruckmen should be handicapped as it is far easier to eke for many years as a back-up ruckman. Irrespective, Campbell is the rolled gold standard of ruckmen ekers.

Key defenders are also more eke-able but not as much as ruckmen. It is very impressive if Hamling gets a contract at GWS and continues on his AFEL journey.

For mine Sam Reid has been the best eker in history relative to his position.

All fair calls. Rucks definitely have an advantage, particularly over mediums and smalls who are usually cast aside much more quickly than mediocre talls.

Hamling is only an eker due to injury - he was actually a pretty high quality defender that was traded for a essentially a 2nd round pick on a 3 year deal that I would assume was for reasonable coin. Those aren't the hallmarks of an eker. However his longevity and potentially a 5th club are certainly eker positives.

[Mofra]

If you're on 4 different club lists during your AFL career you should get AFL life membership.

[jazzadogs]

All fair calls. Rucks definitely have an advantage, particularly over mediums and smalls who are usually cast aside much more quickly than mediocre talls.

Hamling is only an eker due to injury - he was actually a pretty high quality defender that was traded for a essentially a 2nd round pick on a 3 year deal that I would assume was for reasonable coin. Those aren't the hallmarks of an eker. However his longevity and potentially a 5th club are certainly eker positives.

Staying on a list when perennially injured is elite ekering.

Drafted 2011 by the cats as pick 32.
2012 - 0 games
2013 - 0 games
2014 - 0 games
Picked up as DFA by Dogs for 2015 season.
2015 - 11 games
2016 - 12 games. Premiership CHB.
Traded - Hamling, pick 40 and pick 63 for pick 35, 43 and 61. 35 and 43 were combined for pick 26 (Lipinski).
2017 - 22 games
2018 - 17 games
2019 - 22 games
2020 - 0 games
2021 - 1 game
2022 - 1 game
2023 - 4 games
Delisted free agent to Swans
2024 - 0 games
2025 - 14 games

Total: 14 seasons, 107 games, 1 premiership!

[Axe Man]

Staying on a list when perennially injured is elite ekering.

Drafted 2011 by the cats as pick 32.
2012 - 0 games
2013 - 0 games
2014 - 0 games
Picked up as DFA by Dogs for 2015 season.
2015 - 11 games
2016 - 12 games. Premiership CHB.
Traded - Hamling, pick 40 and pick 63 for pick 35, 43 and 61. 35 and 43 were combined for pick 26 (Lipinski).
2017 - 22 games
2018 - 17 games
2019 - 22 games
2020 - 0 games
2021 - 1 game
2022 - 1 game
2023 - 4 games
Delisted free agent to Swans
2024 - 0 games
2025 - 14 games

Total: 14 seasons, 107 games, 1 premiership!

Wasn't it largely due to one bad ankle injury that was mismanaged by Freo? A bit different to a player than keeps breaking down.

I'm not arguing against Hamling as an eker - I think you will find I've posted some of his history in this thread before. I just don't think he's quite at the level of some others for the reasons I've already pointed out.

[Happy Days]

Hamling’s first couple of years at Freo were awesome, it was really annoying

[ledge]

Wouldn’t staying on a list for 14 years with the history of injuries be more an effort, as most of the time he wasn’t even on the park put kept getting contracts not just from one club but 4 and maybe 5 ?

[merantau]

There will never be another Daniel Currie - the unapproachable, unassailable Daniel Currie.

[Mofra]

There will never be another Daniel Currie - the unapproachable, unassailable Daniel Currie.

Sam Reid (our one) is still the record holder though for the longest time to get to 50 games. He's earned his place in the thread title.