The Western Bulldogs have confirmed former Dog and Blue Liam Jones has nominated their club as his preferred club for 2023.
Jones retired from his spell with Carlton at the end of the 2021 season, ending a seven-year stint at Princes Park after arriving from the Bulldogs at the end of the 2014 season.
Newly-implemented COVID vaccine requirements saw Jones decide to hang up the boots late last year, with the 31-year-old venturing to the QAFL to play with Palm Beach Currumbin in 2022.
Those requirements have since been scrapped, seeing Jones now eyeing a return to the AFL and nominating the Bulldogs to join the club as an unrestricted free agent.
"Liam Jones has nominated the Western Bulldogs as his preferred playing destination for the 2023 season," a club statement reads
"After sitting out the 2022 AFL season, Jones was classified by the League as an Unrestricted Free Agent, allowing him to automatically move to the Club of his choice.
"The Bulldogs will work with Jones and his management to facilitate a move within the trade and free agency period."
The AFL will need to tick off the move, with retired players unable to find new clubs in a return to the competition for 18 months.
Carlton are expected to gain draft compensation for 2022 when Jones joins the Bulldogs.
Jones played 161 AFL games between his service to the Blues and Bulldogs, sharing his career as a key defender and forward target.
