Rory Lobb

[Axe Man]

Re: Rory Lobb

Why are we looking at Rowe, he is average at best and we already have Weightman, Garcia, (unfortunately) O'Neill, Scott, Arthur Jones and Bedendo

Opinions seem varied on Rowe as to whether is AFL quality and works hard enough, but that aside he is a natural crumbing forward and none of those names above are. It is a glaring hole on our list, whether Rowe is the right man to fill it is the only question.

[GVGjr]

Re: Rory Lobb

If we get him, where does he play?

If it is changing ruck/FP with Tinglish, then there has to be no room for Bruce if Naughton and Ugle-Hagan are the keys.

If it is as a key forward, then there is still no room for Bruce.

If we recruit Lobb, the final year of Bruce's contract will be spent in the VFL as back up full forward.

While there are some obvious benefits about adding Lobb to our list bringing him in next year does add some complexity with providing opportunities for Ugle-Hagan and Darcy.

Naughton, Bruce and Lobb looks to be a very competitive tall forward 3.
Naughton has kicked 98 goals over the last 2 seasons
Bruce kicked 48 goals in 2021 and I'm somewhat confident he can return to form next year.
Lobb kicked 36 goals this year and can provide a better chop out for English than Bruce can.
Ugle-Hagan would cover any injuries or form slumps and Darcy might have to settle in as a defender.

If we were to move Naughton to the back line, and I'm not saying we should, it would solve 2 potential challenges we face.

It will be interesting to see how we manage this.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Rory Lobb

With Lobb, those who don't want him, as in to the degree they hope the deal falls over...is it a combo of not rating him + not rating the club list management skills? Not trying to make a statement here, I respect the forum. Genuinely intrigued whether it's a combo of both. It would kinda have to be really I guess.

[Sedat]

Re: Rory Lobb

Bruce looks cooked

He does but the big boys take a while to come good after a knee reco. Hipwood has been awful most of the last 3 months since he came back from his reco, but has started to come good and in a big way. Not saying Bruce will follow the same trajectory but it is possible.

If Lobb is the answer, we are asking the wrong question.

[Mofra]

Re: Rory Lobb

We aren't comparing a homesick 18 yo to a 30 year old who only 12-months ago asked to return to the club from whence he came (GWS) only to go on and have his best season?

Lobb has a contract and Freo are right to stick to their guns.

Logue is another issue of course and they DO need to tread carefully I guess...you can't have players leaving for nothing.

They may have the right to hold Lobb to his contract, but at what cost?
If there are flow on effects (e.g. Logue) Freo would have to consider them.

FWIW I'm not sure a Lobb deal gets done - not only do Freo have to let him go at all, they also have to agree on what we're willing to pay for him and both Power and Bell are known to play tough when they have to.

[Sedat]

Re: Rory Lobb

With Lobb, those who don't want him, as in to the degree they hope the deal falls over...is it a combo of not rating him + not rating the club list management skills? Not trying to make a statement here, I respect the forum. Genuinely intrigued whether it's a combo of both. It would kinda have to be really I guess.

For me he doesn't fill our most pressing need (no 1 ruck), he is inconsistent, he's not young and he will cost a lot for the privilege. But more importantly, we already have a younger and frankly better quality Lobb forward/ruck hybrid type - his name is English and he's also 5 years younger. We all know Lobb won't be suddenly doing 50% ruck time (if he did that might sway the argument), and in any event he's not great at it and doesn't really want to do it anyway (although he looked like Polly Farmer when rucking against English 2 weeks ago).

The whole ruck/2nd ruck situation actually boggles the mind. Our needs are clear and obvious but we are going down a completely different path that won't materially help us improve in the areas that drastically need it, and we will be paying a high price to boot.

We need to find a proper no 1 ruckman. There's this bloke by the name or Grundy who might be available, and evidently he won't cost a great deal more in 2023 than the 750k Lobb is guaranteed to receive.

[F'scary]

Re: Rory Lobb

While there are some obvious benefits about adding Lobb to our list bringing him in next year does add some complexity with providing opportunities for Ugle-Hagan and Darcy.

Naughton, Bruce and Lobb looks to be a very competitive tall forward 3.
Naughton has kicked 98 goals over the last 2 seasons
Bruce kicked 48 goals in 2021 and I'm somewhat confident he can return to form next year.
Lobb kicked 36 goals this year and can provide a better chop out for English than Bruce can.
Ugle-Hagan would cover any injuries or form slumps and Darcy might have to settle in as a defender.

If we were to move Naughton to the back line, and I'm not saying we should, it would solve 2 potential challenges we face.

It will be interesting to see how we manage this.

Dilemmas everywhere. But perhaps this would be a good spot to be in.

Looks like Schache is off the list and Cordy too, especially if we go down the Jones route (I am ok with this but only on a 1 year contract). I am not convinced about Bruce. I base this not just off his return (which was like playing one short, he was so ineffective) but my impression of his games leading up to the injury. In my opinion, he went missing almost completely when the games were in the balance, he got his goals after they had been decided.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Rory Lobb

With Lobb, those who don't want him, as in to the degree they hope the deal falls over...is it a combo of not rating him + not rating the club list management skills? Not trying to make a statement here, I respect the forum. Genuinely intrigued whether it's a combo of both. It would kinda have to be really I guess.

Prior to this season I thought he was a really inconsistent player.

I don't know why but I get the feeling this might be his retirement contract and he might go back to his old ways.

His body of work doesn't inspire me.

If we get him at a reasonable price, I'm ok with it. I've gone from hard no, to hmm maybe.

[GVGjr]

Re: Rory Lobb

With Lobb, those who don't want him, as in to the degree they hope the deal falls over...is it a combo of not rating him + not rating the club list management skills? Not trying to make a statement here, I respect the forum. Genuinely intrigued whether it's a combo of both. It would kinda have to be really I guess.

My guess there is a few components here.
From a team balance perspective
Last year Marra was spinning his wheels but later this season he ran into some good form so potentially limiting his opportunities next season won't sit well with many supporters.
I don't think we can play 4 tall forwards so it's going to be a juggling act.

The player
He has basically been Fremantle's key forward this year and yet coming to us he could be as the 3rd wheel. Is that a great fit?
He will be 30 before he plays for us and it's a 3 year deal he is after so that won't sit well with some supporters.
Is the main attraction of bringing him in he fact that he can provide those 5 minute a quarter chop outs for English?

He should make us a better side but will he make us a top 6 side should probably be the question.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Rory Lobb

My guess there is a few components here.
From a team balance perspective
Last year Marra was spinning his wheels but later this season he ran into some good form so potentially limiting his opportunities next season won't sit well with many supporters.
I don't think we can play 4 tall forwards so it's going to be a juggling act.

The player
He has basically been Fremantle's key forward this year and yet coming to us he could be as the 3rd wheel. Is that a great fit?
He will be 30 before he plays for us and it's a 3 year deal he is after so that won't sit well with some supporters.
Is the main attraction of bringing him in he fact that he can provide those 5 minute a quarter chop outs for English?

He should make us a better side but will he make us a top 6 side should probably be the question.

Yep, that makes sense.

For mine it is really hard to judge without knowing how much we are going to pay him and what we are giving away.

My real question though, is the reluctance in part to now rating the club's ability to manage the list.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: Rory Lobb

I actually think it make more sense for Lobb to part of the Jackson trade and he would suit Melbourne's needs more than ours. Hopefully someone out there can convince Melbourne to do this. HOPEFULLY!

[Bornadog]

Re: Rory Lobb

I actually think it make more sense for Lobb to part of the Jackson trade and he would suit Melbourne's needs more than ours. Hopefully someone out there can convince Melbourne to do this. HOPEFULLY!

If not Lobb, what is your solution to second ruck?

[azabob]

Re: Rory Lobb

If not Lobb, what is your solution to second ruck?

Timmy English!!!

[Mofra]

Re: Rory Lobb

For me he doesn't fill our most pressing need (no 1 ruck), he is inconsistent, he's not young and he will cost a lot for the privilege. But more importantly, we already have a younger and frankly better quality Lobb forward/ruck hybrid type - his name is English and he's also 5 years younger. We all know Lobb won't be suddenly doing 50% ruck time (if he did that might sway the argument), and in any event he's not great at it and doesn't really want to do it anyway (although he looked like Polly Farmer when rucking against English 2 weeks ago).

The whole ruck/2nd ruck situation actually boggles the mind. Our needs are clear and obvious but we are going down a completely different path that won't materially help us improve in the areas that drastically need it, and we will be paying a high price to boot.

We need to find a proper no 1 ruckman. There's this bloke by the name or Grundy who might be available, and evidently he won't cost a great deal more in 2023 than the 750k Lobb is guaranteed to receive.

We're hitched our wagon to the English stallion - he's our no 1 ruck going forward. We're not chasing an English replacement and sending English forward.

[Bornadog]

Re: Rory Lobb

We're hitched our wagon to the English stallion - he's our no 1 ruck going forward. We're not chasing an English replacement and sending English forward.

No one has a realistic solution to second ruck - so Lobb it is.