EXPERIENCED forward Mitch Hahn will be given the flexibility to train as a mature-aged rookie while fulfilling a part-time coaching role at Williamstown in 2011.
The 29-year-old accepted the Western Bulldogs' offer to join the rookie list on Tuesday by nominating for next week's NAB AFL Rookie and Pre-Season Drafts.
Club recruiting manager Simon Dalrymple says Hahn will coach and play at the Seagulls while still providing the Dogs with a forward option if a senior-listed player suffers a long-term injury.
"He's done a bit [of coaching] this year through Maribyrnong College and the Western Jets so he'll build up his CV in that area and we'll allow him a bit of flexibility with his schedule to do something along those lines," he told afl.com.au on Tuesday.
"It adds to our depth of players who can play [senior footy], so that's good.
"The decision has been made that we'll look at him and we'll call him out next Tuesday."
Dalrymple said it was all but confirmed that Hahn would formally rejoin the Dogs in a week's time but that it was pending on other clubs' selections in both the pre-season and rookie drafts.
However, he said the club was unaware of any other approaches made to Hahn and was confident the paperwork would go through.
The Dogs can add four rookies to their list after retaining Matthew Panos and Eddie Prato for 2011.
They have former Sydney Swan Ed Barlow and ex-Demon Danny Hughes training with them in the hope of being thrown lifelines.
"They're training really well," Dalrymple said.
"It will depend on if there are enough development opportunities for our younger fellas. It's to be considered as well as what they can bring to the table.
"It's just important we get the mix right in terms of giving opportunities for our younger players to develop, because we think we've got a good group of talented young players and we want them to be given every chance to get some confidence by playing at the highest level."
Dalrymple said it took a certain type of player to be rookie-listed and that the club rated character ahead of position.
"It will be more the No.1 criteria we're looking for. It's about having the right attitude in terms of the rookie mentality," he said.
"We want them to really want to train the house down and be really determined.
"Looking at guys who have come off the rookie list who have been successful at the Bulldogs - Dale Morris, Matthew Boyd, Liam Picken - they're from that determined mould."
Hahn is the only former Bulldog the club is looking at redrafting as a rookie this year.
