Western Bulldogs head of footy Chris Grant has confirmed the Dogs’ interest in luring Rory Lobb to the club.
Lobb is contracted until the end of 2023 at Fremantle, where he’s been for the past four seasons since moving from GWS at the end of 2018.
He’s improved in 2022 to average a career-high 1.9 goals per game and can also pinch-hit in the ruck.
The 29-year-old tried to be dealt back to the Giants at the end of last year, however a deal couldn’t be struck between the two clubs.
When recently asked if he saw his long-term future at the Dockers, Lobb told 9 News Perth: “We’ll have to see.”
When asked about the club’s forward mix and the possibility of Lobb – who has been linked to the Dogs – slotting in, Grant admitted they had a use for the tall Docker.
“The hypothetical is just that, as much as someone like a Rory Lobb would be really helpful for us, that’s not the case just yet, so we’ll see what eventuates (with our forward mix),” Grant told AFL Nation.
When pressed further on Lobb, he said preliminary discussions had been conducted.
“We sort of reached out but we haven’t got anywhere (in terms of) having a really good dialogue,” he said.
“If Rory gets to a point in time where he expresses a desire to come Victoria way or near us, then we’d be very open to that discussion.
“And quite fair enough really, the season he’s playing with the Dockers, who are going quite well, he probably doesn’t even want to think about that just not.
“But if that does become available, he’s the type of player ourselves and a few clubs are keen to talk to I’m sure.”
Grant also added that star forward Aaron Naughton wouldn’t be pushed to the backline if Lobb joins the club, with key forwards Josh Bruce, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy all in the mix to play in the future.
“(Naughton) could be an amazing forward, so we wouldn’t want to take that opportunity away from the team or from him,” Grant responded.
“I don’t think that’s on the agenda… I don’t think that’s what the team really needs at the moment.”
The Dogs clash with Sydney on Friday night in a potential eight-point game, with both sides competing for a spot in the top eight.