‘Has already made up his mind’: First AFL trade bomb drops as Rory Lobb seeking fourth club

At the conclusion of the 2024 season, Western Bulldogs tall Rory Lobb will request a move to a fourth AFL team, according to Tom Morris of Nine.

Since Lobb was left out of Luke Beveridge’s best 23 at Whitten Oval, it was widely anticipated that he would look to leave.

This will be the third off-season that the 31-year-old has asked to be traded.

Only two years have passed since the 206-cm forward/ruck was sold to the Bulldogs from Fremantle in exchange for selection 30 and a potential second-round pick. Prior to transferring to Victoria, the player had requested his departure in 2021.

This time, he is looking for a new home in Victoria, as Melbourne, Collingwood, St. Kilda, and North Melbourne have all been mentioned as teams in need of important forward/ruck depth lately.

Morris of Nine said, “Rory Lobb will ask to be traded to another Victorian team at the end of the season, whether or not he plays seniors again in 2024.”

“With two years remaining on his contract, Bobb has already said that he wants to play for a fourth AFL team the following season. However, the Dogs will have to grant his request.

The team will not deal him for anything less than what they believe to be his market value because they have a history of keeping players to their contracts.

“The main source of frustration for Lobb is that he hasn’t been chosen on a weekly basis, which will serve as the foundation for his October request.”

However, Aaron Naughton’s knee injury, which will sideline the star forward for four to six weeks, is expected to provide Lobb some playing time.

Lobb has kicked 168 goals in 163 AFL games. He has played for the Bulldogs 23 times (just three of those games this year), Fremantle 66 times, and GWS 74 times.