Rory Lobb says the Western Bulldogs’ need for an improved backline can come from within after a quiet trade period

The Bulldogs didn’t land the hulking key defender they needed during the trade period, but full back Rory Lobb says the Dogs can still improve without one.

Western Bulldogs veteran Rory Lobb says the club’s under-fire defence is capable of vast improvement as he uses a below-par finish to the season to drive a summer of improvement.

And Lobb has backed the club’s elite jumping ruckmen Sam Darcy and Tim English to provide silver service to the midfield stars under the league’s new ruck rules.

Lobb will attend the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday as an ambassador of the Ronald McDonald House Charities before heading to the Maldives with new wife Lexi on Wednesday.

As the official Pin & Win charity partner of the VRC, RMHC is aiming to raise over $800,000 to help keep families of seriously ill children together across Victoria and Tasmania.

Rory and Lexi were married early last month at an intimate wedding in Toorak but will return to the Maldives where he proposed to his partner two years ago for an expanded family celebration.

Rory Lobb and Lexi Mary on their wedding day. Picture: Ten Acres Agency

The Dogs brought in lockdown defender Connor Budarick but did not land a key defender to help shore up their back six across the trade period despite asking about Jordon Butts, Cal Wilkie and Mark Keane.

Lobb is aware the club’s individual defenders and team defence must improve but believes even as he turns 33 in February the room for growth is clear.

“We were pretty disappointed throughout the year to not be able to stem the flow of teams getting on runs,” he said.

“But I am only a year and a half into my career as a backman, which sounds pretty weird when I am almost 33. I am learning and still getting better with (backline coach) Daniel Pratt. I am always excited to learn the stuff he has for me every week.

“James O’Donnell hasn’t played a heap of footy growing up because he played lots of cricket so we are learning to play with each other. We had some really good games in a span where we defended really well. People say we needed to pick up a key back but guys are developing and I am developing and we are a team defence so it’s not just the backs, it’s the whole team that can improve.”

James O'Donnell of the Bulldogs in action. Picture: Mark Stewart

Rory Lobb trudges off after a loss. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“I didn’t play my best game against my old team (in the round 24 loss to Fremantle). I was a little bit disappointed on my end. The games I played well were when I identified the pressure on the kicker and I was a bit disappointed with how I finished the year. I have only missed one game to injury at the Dogs but I need to get better. So there is a bit of fire and some fuel in the belly. I feel like I have a lot of footy left in me.”

New ruck rules which mean ruckmen cannot cross the centre square until they make contact with the ball will allow tall jumping ruckmen to gain the ascendancy.

It won’t necessarily help Lobb but 208cm ruck-forward Sam Darcy and All Australian Tim English should be able to thrive in concert with the club’s All Australian midfielders.

“I think it will help us,” Lobb said of the change.

“Darcy is a very athletic player and I rucked towards the end of year from the back half.

“We will see if Luke Beveridge is still planning that.

“I will ruck at times and Tim is such an athletic ruckmen who gets around the ground. It will help with his centre bounce stuff and it will be very interesting to see how people set up at the centre bounce. You used to be able to make it a bit of a ball up because guys could come across the line early and you knew where the ball would be but now it’s a 360 degree game with guys on the move so hopefully I am not on the end of defending when the ball comes out the front of the centre square with speed.”

Lobb thinks Sam Darcy will benefit from the new ruck rules. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Lobb said Cody Weightman was about to start running after so many knee issues across the season and should be in full training post-Christmas.

And while good mate Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is now at the Gold Coast Suns he is hopeful he can make a decent fist of his second chance in AFL.

“I really enjoyed my time with Jamarra,” Lobb said.

“That first year I came across we got really close. He has had a tough year this year but it’s good to see him get a fresh start. Gold Coast had such a good season so he will add to that talent there.”

Originally published as Rory Lobb says the Western Bulldogs’ need for an improved backline can come from within after a quiet trade period