NEW WESTERN Bulldogs recruit Barry Hall says he wouldn't have pursued a career extension if he didn't think he had overcome the on-field demons that ended his days at the Sydney Swans.
Hall, 32, became a Bulldog on Tuesday after the two clubs agreed on a trade involving the Dogs' third-round pick of 47 and a later selection swap that will be finalised before Friday.
The former Swan and Saint said he was well aware of the consequences should his bad behaviour follow him from Sydney to Victoria.
"I wouldn't put myself in a situation, or the Bulldogs in a situation, if I didn't think I could handle it," Hall said at his first Whitten Oval press call on Tuesday morning.
"I guess there's always going to be question marks, and I'm certainly not going to shy away from that. I'm going to do my very best to repay the Bulldogs for showing faith in me.
"I can't promise anything. I'm not going to beat around the bush or anything like that, but I think I can get on top of it.
"It can end pretty badly if it does happen, and I'm very aware of that."
Both Hall and coach Rodney Eade said they felt the Bulldogs' environment and game plan would provide him with less reason to act irrationally during matches.
"I think with the way the Bulldogs play their football is certainly going to help me on-field," Hall said.
Eade, who coached Hall at the Swans for half a season in 2002, said he believed Hall would be able to put the past behind him and contribute to the Dogs for the next two years.
"Like anything, you can't give 100 per cent assurance, and in football especially," he said.
"I think in our environment with the way we play, there's going to be less frustration with his football.
"There's a whole range of things, and he wants to finish his footy on a good note and I think he can offer this club a lot."
Hall said there was a sense of "unfinished business" regarding his 14-year playing career, given the way it ended in July after he was handed a two-game suspension for striking Adelaide's Ben Rutten.
He also said he looked forward to playing against his former Sydney Swans teammates next year.
"[Leaving the Swans] left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, and there were rumours about doing other things and it just didn't feel right to do that," he said.
"I still reckon I've got a lot to offer football, and a lot to offer the Bulldogs.
"I didn't get to say goodbye to the Sydney fans properly, and I guess as a footballer, you want to say goodbye to the fans as you're playing.
Hall also said he looked forward to rekindling his working relationship with Eade.
"We stayed in touch, and there were some tough times at the Swans and Rodney was the first one on the phone to show his support," he said.
"It's been an on-going relationship between us, so it's great and I'm looking forward to continuing that.
"It all fits, Paul Williams, an ex-teammate is here as well, and the relationship with Rodney. It all just felt right."
The 2009 AFL exchange period runs from October 5-9. No trades are official until paperwork has been accepted by the AFL and formally recognised after 2pm on Friday, October 9.
