Over-rated / Under-rated #1: Rory Lobb

[mjp]

Age: 31
Games Total: 176
Games Last Year: 16

The story:
Recruited (somewhat oddly) as a tall forward/backup ruck from Freo at the end of the 2022 season. Managed to upset pretty much everyone with:
- Inconsistent form
- Girlfriend posting 'quirky' videos on SnapFace.
- Blond hair.

Was thrown back in somewhat of a desperation move during 2024 (to be fair to Bevo, he tried it against the Giants during the 'Fatal Collapse' at Ballarat in 2023 without much effect except riling up the supporters who thought Naughton should have been the one to go back!!) and immediately starting catching everything in the sky as if he was the 2nd coming of Gary Dempsey (had Dempsey played CHB I'm pretty sure he still would have taken loads of marks).

Apparently now - after maybe 10 games as a defender and at age 31 - he is the 'ROCK' upon which our defense is being build and will lead us to the promised land.

OK.

Is Rory:
a). Over-rated - one swallow doesn't make a summer and a fall will soon follow.
b). Properly-rated - He really IS a good defender and has shown great commitment and resilience to get even to this point.
c). Under-rated - You think the back end of 2024 was good? Wait until you see him play back after actually TRAINING in that position.

[Uninformed]

b

Would let me post that. Had to have four letters.

[weltschmerz]

B. He'll have a few good to very good seasons at CHB. Has the advantage of being the only defender over 205cm, not many people could spoil a King twin or resting ruck.

[BiteNibbleChomp]

Four or five games after he got moved back, Lobb was something like second best in the league for intercept marks in defence when measured on a per-game basis. If he does that for a whole season, he's a shoe-in for all-Australian. If he performs at 75% of that next year, he's still a pretty solid defender who would keep his place in our side. It's worth remembering that before Lobb got moved back, our defence seemed totally reliant on Liam Jones, and a lot of us thought we'd be totally screwed after he went down.

I think 10 games in the position is enough of a sample to go off in this case - it's not like Lobb is a new draftee or anything, he's already played nearly 200 games at AFL level, and his form in defence was consistent too. Maybe he got a bit lucky (our opposition in 2025 is undoubtedly going to pay more attention to him than they did in 2024), but I don't see how (outside injury) an established player like Lobb gets 'THAT' lucky for half a season and then drops off a cliff hard enough that we'd seriously consider dropping him from the side.

We'd be foolish to rely too heavily on him as the miracle worker for our backline especially long term (Lobb-or-bust is no better a strategy than Jones-or-bust was last year), and I can't see how one more pre-season makes him dramatically better than he has already proven to be in defence, especially as he's set the bar quite high already. But if the worst case is that he drops to that 75% level, he's probably still in our best 23.

Fairly rated I'd say.

- BNC

[GVGjr]

Thanks MJP, great and thought provoking thread.

Lobb was keen to head to Victoria as his wife had some business enterprises and we were looking for a key forward and more importantly someone who could provide some quality 2nd ruck options for us.
Lobb had come off his best season at Fremantle as the #1 key forward kicking 36 goals. The challenge for him was that Naughton and the emerging Ugle-Hagan would also be commanding key forward spots.
Freo knew his value and extracted a decent return from us so fans expected a lot.
The returning Josh Bruce from a knee injury was moved to defense.
Lobb trained brilliantly in his first preseason with us but late in proceedings suffered a foot injury at Skinner Reserve and it impacted his mobility
He performed okay but not to the level we had hoped for.
For the 2024 season and with Darcy coming on quicker than expected Lobb approached the coaches about a potential move to the back line. It was not in the coaches plans
Then later in the season with Darcy performing well and Lobb biding his time at Footscray eventually the move to CHB was confirmed and his performances exceeded expectations.
Clubs had been sounding him out for a potential move but he wanted to stay if there was a genuine spot available.

I suspect Lobb is going to continue to be a productive defender who helps out in other spots as required so option B seems about right for me.

He's an exceptionally good trainer and club man and just wants to play senior football in whatever position he's asked to fill so I'm very hopeful we continue to see some good football from him for 2025.

[josie]

He has become a fave of mine. No fuss, no fanfare. Seems popular and as GvGjr pointed out is a good trainer. Now Caleb Daniel is playing elsewhere (and I supported his trading with a big rip in my heart) I’m doubling down on supporting Lobb. It’s wonderful how our fans have turned around & are supporting him.

I didn’t think he was as bad as forward/back up ruck as some did, apart from a few games where perhaps he could be accused of not being physical enough. In fact I reckon his tap work is reasonable and at risk of being shot down I think better than English, and I think we ignored him too often in F50 after some good leads by him.

However his move to the backline has been thus far sensational. And long may it continue.

Onya Lobby!!!

[Grantysghost]

a) It's all gonna go bad.

[azabob]

Rory Lobb is a footballing enigma and looked like he'd coast through his footy career play a couple of hundred serviceable games mainly due to his unique athletic profile and float off into oblivion once he retired.

He is 207cm bloke who has the capacity to play 100% TOG which is perfect for the modern game. He seemed to be the "perfect" footballer, one who can be a dangerous target inside F50 and take his turn in the ruck. Fact or fiction word quickly spread that Lobb in fact does not like taking his turn in the ruck. Lobb has moved clubs officially twice and tried to get back to the Giants at one stage during his time at Fremantle. The talk during 2024 was Lobb was also on his way out of the dogs. These types of moves and non-moves have painted Lobb as someone who runs when it gets tough and doesn't get his own way. Which fits the narrative of not wanting to ruck.

Having said all that what we know is Lobb is a talented footballer. has a reasonable footy IQ, reads of the play quite well and is reliable with footy in hand. Lobb's form in the backend of 2024 showed us is his actions backed up his words - he doesn't care where he plays, he just wants to play senior football.

From the outside looking in one would suggest Lobb is inconsistent game to game, but over his career his averages since his third or fourth season have been fairly consistent.

Lobb's athletic traits and footballing traits makes him perfect for the modern-day intercept player. If you can't get the ball back off the opposition you simply will not win games of football. I certainly hope Daniel Pratt is working away on a game plan which plays to Lobb's strengths rather than have Lobb focusing on locking down on a player.

When I first started this post, I was of the opinion he was fairly rated but having sat down and thought about it I reckon he is closer to underrated, and I expect him to go up another level in 2025.

[Woofingwarrior]

C. 2025 all Australian chb coming in hot

[Brody23]

C- I’m buying all of his stocks, he’s built for the modern day game as a CHB and for someone who has barely trained for that position all I can see is upside.
Why?
A. Stood up in big games (Cats, Hawks, and Swans)
B. Elite work ethic and training standards

[mjp]

C- I’m buying all of his stocks, he’s built for the modern day game as a CHB and for someone who has barely trained for that position all I can see is upside.
Why?
A. Stood up in big games (Cats, Hawks, and Swans)
B. Elite work ethic and training standards

So you voted for A, B and C then??

LOL

(I know you didn't)

[ibonttobreakfree]

Round 19 down in Geelong was one of my fav games last season. Freezing cold and raining. It was that wet that we got called off the golf course mid comp earlier that afternoon. I recall the Lobtser getting about 20 and keeping Jezza to 1 goal. He looks comfortable crashing into packs and flying for marks. Pretty hard to beat 1on1 as well which is ironic because as a forward he was often the opposite. I think he'll land somewhere between B and C. He seems to have a sore knee but thats to be expected at his age. Imagine that he might ping a few from outside 50 from a handball receive as a defender next season which may see his stocks rise. Seems to be pretty professional when he gets dropped to VFL so at worst he gives us great depth with Jones, Buss and Gardy. Jones' is super trustworthy, doesn't seem to get too many soft tissue injuries etc. Has been unlucky with just contact injuries. If we get 20+ games again from Jones that a bonus at his age, if he gets a few injuries I don't feel like we will be that stretched down the back now. Can imagine that its hard to coach against especially when English or Darcy sag back into def as well. I think that it's been a shrewd move so far.

[Dogs 24/7]

I'll back him all the way. He's rated about right from my perspective.

[Bornadog]

Rate at C - wait till 2025

[Dazza]

My huge call for the year is Lobb will be an A.A defender.