Key defender Alex Keath has joined the Western Bulldogs in the final 30 minutes of the 2019 Telstra AFL Trade Period.
The 27-year-old has been secured in a trade with the Adelaide Crows, which saw Keath and Adelaide’s future third round selection come to Whitten Oval, in exchange for the Bulldogs’ pick 45 in the 2019 NAB AFL Draft, and their future second round selection.
Keath becomes the Bulldogs’ second recruit during the 2019 Trade Period, joining key forward Josh Bruce at VU Whitten Oval for the 2020 season.
He has committed to a three-year deal, which will see him don the red, white and blue until the end of 2022.
General Manager of List and Recruiting, Sam Power, said Keath would bolster the Bulldogs at the defensive end of the ground.
“Alex will be a welcome addition to our back line as a key position player,” Power said.
“He had a strong finish to 2018 and carried that through into 2019 where he established himself as a regular at AFL level.
“Alex is someone who reads the play well and is good in the air. He is courageous, good in the contest and someone who helps his teammates on the field.
“As someone who came into the AFL system late, we feel that Alex has plenty of football ahead of him and that his best is still to come.”
Keath had a breakout year in 2019, playing 18 matches and finishing ninth in the Crows’ best and fairest.
The former professional cricketer has played 30 AFL games across his three seasons at the level.
