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Out-of-favour Western Bulldogs big man Rory Lobb will reportedly request a trade to another Victorian club come season’s end.
According to 9News Melbourne’s chief football reporter Tom Morris, Lobb will work to exit Whitten Oval, irrespective of whether he plays senior football again in 2024.
The big man landed at the Western Bulldogs at the start of 2023, after stints with GWS and Fremantle, but has fallen out of favour with under-fire coach Luke Beveridge, who axed him after round one, only to be brought back into the side for round six and seven.
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He was axed again ahead of their eight-point loss to Hawthorn in round eight.
Lobb hasn’t been picked since.
“Rory Lobb will request a trade at the end of the season to another Victorian team, regardless of whether he plays seniors again or not in 2024,” Morris said on Sunday.
“Lobb has already made up his mind. He wants to play for a fourth AFL club next season.”
The ruckman has been linked to a multitude of clubs who could be in need of his services in 2025.
St Kilda, Melbourne, North Melbourne and Collingwood could be on the hunt for the 31-year-old.
But it won’t be all that easy to cut ties with the Dogs, who will be keen for Lobb to stick fat at Whitten Oval, despite his minimal senior opportunities thus far in 2024.
“But the Dogs will have to oblige, given he has two years remaining on his deal,” Morris said.
“The club does has a history of holding players to contracts, and they won’t trade for anything less than what they believe is market value.”
Lobb has been stuck in the VFL for the majority of the 2024 season, with Beveridge deciding against utilising the 207cm key.
Instead, it’s Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton and Sam Darcy who are getting selected up forward, with Beveridge also overlooking him in the ruck due to the presence of Tim English.
“The frustration for Lobb is that he hasn’t been selected on a weekly basis. That will form the backbone of his request in October,” Morris said.
The Dogs are 5-6 after 11 rounds.
