Rory Lobb

[Mofra]

Re: Rory Lobb

Couldn't agree more ... just not a 30+ someone (Lobb) in my opinion

I think Lobb is actually the perfect age for us - gives Darcy a real development timeline.
Anyone younger would be a waste of a contract in their later years.

I note Soldo (who we chased last year) is now potentially on the table as Richmond need cap & trade capital for Taranto & Hopper. Silly boy should have taken the deal with us.

[1eyedog]

Re: Rory Lobb

This is where I feel we're overreaching slightly with Lobb, because I agree Bruce will offer more next year - who could forget the turnaround from 2020 to 2021 in his form after a full pre-season?

Lobb, Bruce, Naughton, Ugle-Hagan, Darcy. Five key forwards. Lobb slots into the forward/ruck role, and the other four compete for two spots. Naughton will play, so that's then Darcy, Bruce and Ugle-Hagan fighting for one spot.

Two months ago I wouldn't have any problem holding Darcy back, he seemed to be miles off the pace without a pre-season and coming back from injury (and still growing!) Look at his finish to the season though, started dominating VFL games, then came in and had 14 intercepts in his first two games down back, then took 6 marks inside fifty in his first two games up forward.

He'll be much better again next year with a pre-season behind him. We can play him behind the ball, but all of his learned craft is up forward.

There've been a few suggestions to send Naughton to the backline and given the circumstances it's not crazy. Every time I wrestle with the proposition though I'm reminded of him having kicked nearly 100 goals in the last two seasons. That's a rare feat - we have to go back to Stringer's 2015/16 seasons for similar output. He's still improving up forward too. In 2021 I think something like all but one of his goals came from set shots? This year the majority seem to have come from snaps. If we can support him to get the marking game going again, and split the difference between the last two seasons, he could take another big step.

Then in the background there's Schache who based on his finish to the VFL season should be in AFL contention too.

That's a lot of headaches created for the sake of a 20 minutes per game second ruck, who might only last two more seasons before his body gives way.

Now having said all of that, competitive selection is good, and bringing in quality players is always good, so I'm not against Lobb coming to us, but the price has to be right. An end of second round pick is the maximum I'd like to see us give up to get him.

I'm not sure Darcy, Marra and Bruce will be fighting for one spot. Lobb is a bit of a two year stop gap for mine. Darcy will likely play back as he continues to develop and will likely play 8-10 games next year. Marra also played more games than he deserved. Bruce we have zero idea about. Lobb is immediately a best 22 key forward with a known quantity.

I think we have more pressing needs in other areas of the ground as well but there's no denying that Lobb is less of risk forward than Bruce in 2023 and a much better ruckman than pretty much everyone on our list.

[Bornadog]

Re: Rory Lobb

I think Lobb is actually the perfect age for us - gives Darcy a real development timeline.
Anyone younger would be a waste of a contract in their later years.

I note Soldo (who we chased last year) is now potentially on the table as Richmond need cap & trade capital for Taranto & Hopper. Silly boy should have taken the deal with us.

If it were possible would you take Soldo and forget Lobb?

[Sedat]

Re: Rory Lobb

2/ That means you have faith in English being a 100 minute per game ruckman.... and based on previous performances it's hard to see that happening, especially against the more physical types where he is still getting rag-dolled.

Agree 1000%

The headaches with 100 mins game time for 1st ruck need to be urgently addressed. Not in 2024 or 2025, but right now this off-season. If that means getting Lobb and giving him 40-50% ruck time to support English, that is better than the current situation. It is clearly not my preferred option but we cannot waste another minute treading water, and I'll take that over the status quo every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Rory Lobb

Agree 1000%

The headaches with 100 mins game time for 1st ruck need to be urgently addressed. Not in 2024 or 2025, but right now this off-season. If that means getting Lobb and giving him 40-50% ruck time to support English, that is better than the current situation. It is clearly not my preferred option but we cannot waste another minute treading water, and I'll take that over the status quo every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

Here are Tim's hit outs this season. His average per game is below some of course but surprisingly better than some too.

https://www.zerohanger.com/afl/player-stats/2022-afl-top-hit-outs/

[Bornadog]

Re: Rory Lobb

Here are Tim's hit outs this season. His average per game is below some of course but surprisingly better than some too.

https://www.zerohanger.com/afl/playe...-top-hit-outs/

The other stats to look at is Tim's hitout to advantage is 31% compared to say Gawn at 33%

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Rory Lobb

The other stats to look at is Tim's hitout to advantage is 31% compared to say Gawn at 33%

Couldn't find them.

[Bornadog]

Re: Rory Lobb

Couldn't find them.

I just gave it to you

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Rory Lobb

I just gave it to you

Ha ha no the stats for all ruckmen to advantage.

[Bornadog]

Re: Rory Lobb

Ha ha no the stats for all ruckmen to advantage.

I got that from AFL.com.au stats - see here

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Rory Lobb

I got that from AFL.com.au stats - see here

Thanks

[Sedat]

Re: Rory Lobb

I got that from AFL.com.au stats - see here

So according to official stats, Sam Hayes has more hitouts to advantage per game than all of Max Gawn, Brodie Grundy, Toby Nankervis and Nic Nat, and he has 4 times more than Finlayson despite Finlayson being preferred as no 1 ruck for the entire 2nd half of the season. Ok then.

Not sure the stats are backing up the argument for or against English. I'm happy to evaluate based on finals performances against direct opponents, which are definitive and not in a good way unfortunately.

[Bornadog]

Re: Rory Lobb

So according to official stats, Sam Hayes has more hitouts to advantage per game than all of Max Gawn, Brodie Grundy, Toby Nankervis and Nic Nat, and he has 4 times more than Finlayson despite Finlayson being preferred as no 1 ruck for the entire 2nd half of the season. Ok then.

Not sure the stats are backing up the argument for or against English. I'm happy to evaluate based on finals performances against direct opponents, which are definitive and not in a good way unfortunately.

Of course you wouldn't look at players that don't play regularly like Hayes.

[Mofra]

Re: Rory Lobb

If it were possible would you take Soldo and forget Lobb?

No.

Soldo is a great 50/50 ruck forward but Lobb the better 90/10 forward. The latter is clearly what we're going for:

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_compare?playerStatus1=A&tid1=9&playerStatus2=A&tid2=15&type=A&pid1=3946&pid2=4141&fid1=S&fid2=S

It's not that far different accounting for time in position this year.

[F'scary]

Re: Rory Lobb

No more stop gaps, unless they are on short term (1 year at a time) contracts.