Key position utility Tim O’Brien says he is grateful for the opportunity to continue his AFL career at the Western Bulldogs.

The unrestricted free agent signed a two-year deal with the Bulldogs yesterday, becoming the Club’s first arrival of the 2021 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period.

O’Brien said there is plenty to like about the Kennel.

“Getting offered a two-year deal at a Club that is genuinely contending, there’s a lot of players around my sort of age, they’ve been together for a long sort of time now – it’s an exciting time to be at the footy club,” he told media over Zoom on Friday afternoon.

“Hopefully I can help the footy club take another step towards what we’re all after. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The 27-year-old has managed 97 games since being drafted to Hawthorn with pick 28 in the 2012 national draft, playing a mix of both forward and back.

As a Bulldog however, he expects majority of his time to be spent in defence – alongside fellow ex-Hawk Taylor Duryea.

“The role that (Bevo) is looking for me to play is across half-back which is exciting. It’s a role I think suits me and my attributes best,” O’Brien said.

“It’ll be more my intercept marking that I can see myself being able to help the Western Bulldogs with.

“If I need to do the lockdown role I’m capable of doing that, but to get the most out of me as a player I’ll need to bring that offensive side…that’s what is going to help us as a footy club going forward.”

The Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period will conclude at 7.30pm AEDT on Wednesday 13 October.