Bulldogs recruit Joel Hamling is making the most of his new home at Victoria University Whitten Oval, as he gears up for a big summer.

The former Geelong defender joined the Bulldogs as a delisted free agent in November 2014 in what he says was the right move.

“I met with Jason McCartney and the recruiting staff and the opportunity to join a young upcoming team, for me it was the best option.”

“It’s been really good, it’s a young group… I’ve loved my first four weeks here so far.

The 194 centimetre West Australian joins a host of defenders to arrive at the club in the off-season including ex-Swan Shane Biggs, which will help bolster the Dogs’ backline depth.

Setting Hamling apart is his athleticism and versatility, having spent time up forward with Geelong’s VFL team.

Hamling says that time at Geelong taught him valuable lessons, that he hopes to bring to his game with the Bulldogs.

“Learning off guys like Harry Taylor… Tom Lonergan and Andrew Mackie and all these sort of guys, it’s been great for me, for my development.

Hamling is looking to increase his running capacity this summer with an aim to making his senior debut after a considerable apprenticeship in the AFL system.

“Obviously to play round one [is my goal]… probably just play my role in the team, try and play each week and help the team out.”

Yet Hamling knows there is a lot of work to be done before then.

“It’s been a solid four weeks, it’s going to be a hard January I’d say.”