It wasn’t too long ago when Rory Lobb’s playing days at Whitten Oval appeared to be numbered. But now, the forward-turned-defender says he has settled into his new-found home in the Western Bulldogs defence and believes he has “plenty of football” left.
Lobb played seven VFL games and managed just three in the AFL up to round 12 of this season as he struggled to break into a senior side laden with tall forwards Sam Darcy, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Aaron Naughton. It seemed likely he would request a trade to a fourth AFL club in the off-season, following periods with Greater Western Sydney and Fremantle.
Rory Lobb will again look to make his presence felt for the Bulldogs on Friday night.Credit: Getty Images
But in round 16, Lobb was sent to the other end of the field and recast as a defender against North Melbourne. He’s played every game since, enjoying his transition into a foreign role, with the help of teammate Liam Jones, who missed three of Lobb’s games in defence through injury, and will play his 200th game in his first final on Friday night.
“We didn’t have him [Jones] for a little while there, but he was really good behind the scenes, helping me build my positioning and backing myself in the air,” Lobb says.
Lobb says fellow Bulldogs defender Liam Jones has helped in teaching him to back himself in the air.Credit: Getty Images
“I’ve got a lot more to learn, which I’m really excited about come next year, to have a full preseason as a backman.”
Lobb admits he was frustrated with his own performances in the VFL, prompting a “few honest conversations” with coach Luke Beveridge.
“I wasn’t playing the football that I wanted to play,” he said. “I felt like I was sort of in and out of the team a little bit, and not really having the impact the way that I wanted to.”
A career-best performance against Geelong in round 19 cemented Lobb’s position as a reborn defender.
He registered a career-high 21 disposals, with nine marks, 14 intercepts and three tackles, often opposed to dangerous Cat Jeremy Cameron in that game, to help secure a 47-point win.
It was that game that Lobb says made it “too hard” for Beveridge to drop him. Speaking after the game, Beveridge said Lobb and Buku Khamis were “impenetrable” in a telling performance as key defenders.
“The thing about Rory is that it’s been so difficult at times when he hasn’t been in the team because he’s too good a player, too good a professional and too good a human being, really,” Beveridge said at the time.
And while the old saying goes, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, Lobb has embraced his defensive role with a hunger to learn.
“I feel like I’ve got plenty of football left in me,” he said. “I have two more years here at the Dogs. I’m really enjoying my football, I’m really enjoying my new role.”
“It’s a great culture. I enjoy coming in every day, working on new things as a backman. Hopefully, I play a lot longer than two years. I feel like I can play until I’m 40, but we’ll see how the body holds up.”
As the Bulldogs prepare to take on the Hawks in an elimination final on Friday night at the MCG, Lobb says there is an air of excitement at the kennel, with the club’s VFL side through to a preliminary final after its win at the weekend.
The Hawks got the better of the Bulldogs in round 8, holding on for a seven-point win at Marvel Stadium, but Lobb says his team are looking forward to a rematch with the in-form Hawks.
“We’re very system-based, as backmen. I’m sure I’ll end up on some smalls, which hopefully I don’t end up on our Gini [Jack Ginnivan] or the Wizard [Nick Watson]; they’re pretty quick, so hopefully I can stay on Chols [Mabior Chol] as much as possible.”
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