Welcome to the Western Bulldogs Rory Lobb

[Mofra]

Lobb was quite outstanding. Had absolutely zero help around him, but repelled a number of attacks, took intercept marks, used the ball well and looked composed, focused and hardened.

WTF happened to the rest?

I thought Jones was average at best and his second half of the year showed some signs the end mightn't be far at all. I've long been a fan of Duryea but it's time to move on, he played himself out of a contract and I know it was one game but if we can't rely on his experience in a big final, there's no point moving forward. I was really disappointed by how he lost his footing, trailed behind and turned it over under zero pressure.

Haven't seen much said about JOD but he hasn't had a good year. I expected more. Need to keep playing him but I'm not sure where he actually fits, he was made look slow, physically dominated, and lost at times.

Really liked how Freijah got himself into the game. Some worrying moments early, but then got involved and had some excellent pieces of play when it must've felt like the world was crumbling around him. Very exciting talent.

McNeils effort was great, gave everything he had. The issue for us is that we get no scoreboard pressure from him or VDM weekly. We need to upgrade both.

I'm pretty dirty on Bont. Kicks one OOTF (hard shot), drops a mark, has 6 touches to HT, wanted to play aerial ping pong. A strange performance.

Love to know what was going on with Marra. Starts on the bench which was odd, came on and looked disinterested. Zero effort to chase and compete. Was he sore? Ill? Incredibly disappointing.

Although we ended the first quarter with a lead, I was concerned. We just didn't look sharp, our pressure was well off. Once Hawthorn felt comfortable, their confidence grew and they started running. Their ability to release a runner in any position on the ground put us to the sword. We couldn't go with them. Their skills were very good, but for me it was their running power. We couldn't and didn't pressure them, so they linked up and ran both through and around us.

It will be interesting to see if bringing in Barrass and Battle actually slows them up. Athletically they're streets ahead of most teams, including us.

For us, we're going to have to invest in Buss heavily from here. We desperately need to find some pressure forwards with pace who can hit the scoreboard.

We've invested a lot in Gags this year and he really hasn't delivered in a mid role. I'd be grooming him to replace Duryea.

Feel the list needs a further injection of youth. Must move past VDM, McNeil, Harmes, Daniel, Macrae, Libba and co, particularly with Tasmania entering.

Last night leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.

Summed up alot of my thoughts too - I'm really worried about Jones next year and I'd hate to see the mess our defence would be in if Lobb hadn't fully committed to CHB. I was surprised how good his ground work was against the Hawks too.

Libba worries me too. Very much.

[macca]

Lobb was BOG for us on Friday. Chol had lots of supply and he did a good effort in nullifying.

[bornadog]

Lobb was BOG for us on Friday. Chol had lots of supply and he did a good effort in nullifying.

Lobb thrashed Chol who only had 6 disposals and no goals.

[Bullies]

Summed up alot of my thoughts too - I'm really worried about Jones next year and I'd hate to see the mess our defence would be in if Lobb hadn't fully committed to CHB. I was surprised how good his ground work was against the Hawks too.

Libba worries me too. Very much.

With Jones probably in his last year how would English go at CHB? Buss could be the intercept defender with English playing on the tall? Lobb plays at FB.

[GVGjr]

Lobb

Rory Lobb never asked to leave the Western Bulldogs and is locked into defensive move
After being linked to a trade in the middle of the season, a Western Bulldogs gun has cleared up what really happened.

Rejuvenated Western Bulldogs defender Rory Lobb is hopeful his club “get something good” for a duo of exiting stars as he confirmed he never at any stage asked for a trade out of Whitten Oval.

Lobb looked headed to a fourth club early in 2024 as he sat in the VFL, out of favour with coach Luke Beveridge and amid reports he wanted out despite being contracted through to the end of 2026.

But a move to defence after being a long-time forward turned his season around and he became a crucial cog in the Bulldogs’ backline as they made the finals, ensuring a “quieter” trade week for the 31-year-old.

Revealing he never at any stage asked for a trade, declaring his only conversations with Beveridge were about “getting back into the team”, Lobb said he couldn’t wait to get back to pre-season to hone his defensive craft, loving his new football direction.

“Midway through the year, I wasn’t really thinking about the end of the year. I was just focusing on getting back in the team,” Lobb said on Thursday while he was taking on LIV Golf star, and Bulldogs supporter, Lucas Herbert as part of the launch of the Australian Summer of golf.

“And then obviously I had a really good finish to the season and was able to perform at a good level.”

He said his exit meeting with Beveridge was all positive and Lobb was adamant his best footy, as a defender, was ahead of him,

“It was really good, we had a very good chat about where I can take my footy,” he said

“I had a little bit of a crash course through the year on playing backline, and the conversations I had with him and (defensive coach) Daniel Pratt was just exciting to see what I can do through the pre-season and work on my craft.”

Lobb, who has been on holidays since the season finished, had little information on the exits of teammates Bailey Smith, who looked headed to Geelong, and Jack Macrae as trade discussions continue over their futures.

Having been part of trade week before, and twice moving clubs, Lobb said “that’s footy” but hoped the compensation for the Bulldogs helped them be better in 2025.

“You know, people come and go every year, and you have a new crop of players, of draftees, and people trade it in,” he said.

“I don’t have much to do with it, I’m on my holidays, so that’s definitely above my pay grade.

“They’re very good players, and hopefully we get something good for them.

“We want to go all the way and we need to put ourselves in a better position, hopefully win a few more of those close games and get a second chance to be good.”

[Axe Man]

Lobb bullish about 2025 as he gets used to 'new job' at Bulldogs

Rory Lobb discusses the Bulldogs' off-season exits and looks ahead to his first pre-season as a defender

VETERAN Rory Lobb says emerging talent at the Western Bulldogs will cover the midfield hole left by the departure of stars Bailey Smith, Jack Macrae and Caleb Daniel.

Smith sought a fresh start at Geelong after missing the 2024 season following a serious knee injury while premiership player Macrae has joined St Kilda and Daniel is now at North Melbourne after both had limited opportunities this year.

But Lobb feels the Bulldogs have the depth at the club to push deep into finals next season after their week one elimination at the hands of Hawthorn.

"Yeah, of course, it always opens up opportunities for young boys, like Riley Garcia and Harvey Gallagher played a fair few games this year," Lobb told AAP after playing in the pro-am of the Australian Open.

"And then Ryley Sanders, who's in his second year, is a ready-made footballer.

"We still have the experience in the midfield with (Adam) Treloar and Bont (Marcus Bontempelli) and Ed Richards and we feel comfortable with those guys."

Lobb was also rumoured to be seeking an exit from the Bulldogs this year, but said it was speculation that stemmed from his time in the VFL.

He said he and coach Luke Beveridge were "on the same page".

"There's always going to be speculation when I was playing VFL ... but internally, I was having an honest conversation with Bevo (Beveridge)," he said.

"We were on the same page and towards the end of the year, that obviously didn't matter because I was playing every week."

Lobb will begin his 12th AFL pre-season next week but said he was approaching it with a fresh excitement after his mid-season transition to a defender.

He said a full pre-season amongst the backs would deepen his knowledge of the role after learning on go.

"It's actually really exciting, I'm learning essentially a new job in a way," the 31-year-old said.

"I'm going to train as a back and work on my craft a little bit more, and not so much on the fly so I can actually learn the position.

"It's quite refreshing because I've played as a forward-ruck for my whole career.

"Liam Jones actually transitioned from a forward early in his career so he's been really good for me and I'm excited to work alongside him and Taylor Duryea and get to work.

"Hopefully, I can play the footy that I was playing at the back end of the year and we can make finals."

[Twodogs]

Lobb bullish about 2025 as he gets used to 'new job' at Bulldogs

Rory Lobb discusses the Bulldogs' off-season exits and looks ahead to his first pre-season as a defender

VETERAN Rory Lobb says emerging talent at the Western Bulldogs will cover the midfield hole left by the departure of stars Bailey Smith, Jack Macrae and Caleb Daniel.

Smith sought a fresh start at Geelong after missing the 2024 season following a serious knee injury while premiership player Macrae has joined St Kilda and Daniel is now at North Melbourne after both had limited opportunities this year.

But Lobb feels the Bulldogs have the depth at the club to push deep into finals next season after their week one elimination at the hands of Hawthorn.

"Yeah, of course, it always opens up opportunities for young boys, like Riley Garcia and Harvey Gallagher played a fair few games this year," Lobb told AAP after playing in the pro-am of the Australian Open.

"And then Ryley Sanders, who's in his second year, is a ready-made footballer.

"We still have the experience in the midfield with (Adam) Treloar and Bont (Marcus Bontempelli) and Ed Richards and we feel comfortable with those guys."

Lobb was also rumoured to be seeking an exit from the Bulldogs this year, but said it was speculation that stemmed from his time in the VFL.

He said he and coach Luke Beveridge were "on the same page".

"There's always going to be speculation when I was playing VFL ... but internally, I was having an honest conversation with Bevo (Beveridge)," he said.

"We were on the same page and towards the end of the year, that obviously didn't matter because I was playing every week."

Lobb will begin his 12th AFL pre-season next week but said he was approaching it with a fresh excitement after his mid-season transition to a defender.

He said a full pre-season amongst the backs would deepen his knowledge of the role after learning on go.

"It's actually really exciting, I'm learning essentially a new job in a way," the 31-year-old said.

"I'm going to train as a back and work on my craft a little bit more, and not so much on the fly so I can actually learn the position.

"It's quite refreshing because I've played as a forward-ruck for my whole career.

"Liam Jones actually transitioned from a forward early in his career so he's been really good for me and I'm excited to work alongside him and Taylor Duryea and get to work.

"Hopefully, I can play the footy that I was playing at the back end of the year and we can make finals."

Isn't it pleasing to read about someone happy to play a role for the team who doesn't crack the sads because he can't play in his accustomed position.

[Scraggers]

Isn't it pleasing to read about someone happy to play a role for the team who doesn't crack the sads because he can't play in his accustomed position.

A lot of supporters (and WOOFers) bagged him out big time the first half of the season. It was great to see them eat their words and welcome Lobb back with open arms. Very humbling experience for all concerned

[Twodogs]

A lot of supporters (and WOOFers) bagged him out big time the first half of the season. It was great to see them eat their words and welcome Lobb back with open arms. Very humbling experience for all concerned

That whole "Rory wants to go to his fifteenth club" story was just newspaper talk from what I could see. There was never any direct quote from him or his management

[Dogs 24/7]

So according to the training reports Lobb and a few other senior players are doing plenty of work before the rest of the team are back.
Lobb's a remarkable player who has a "where do you need me" attitude that coaches would love. Lets hope 2025 is one of his best seasons ever.