Fremantle could experience an exodus of sorts this year.
Veteran West Australian journalist Kim Hagdorn is reporting that Rory Lobb is amongst a group that will be on the way out to make way for the Dockers’ big-money pursuit of Melbourne’s Luke Jackson.
He suggests 28-year-old Lobb, who is the club’s leading goal kicker this season, will leave the club for the Western Bulldogs this trade period.
Hagdorn says there is more interest than just from the Bulldogs, but expects Lobb to end up at the Whitten Oval.
“Let’s stop beating around the bush, Rory Lobb has got a four-year deal at the Western Bulldogs,” Hagdorn said on SEN WA’s Drive.
“I said last Monday that Essendon had joined the race. Rule that out.
“St Kilda are still keen to try and talk more with Rory Lobb’s management.
“He’ll be going because he has to go. He is a massive part of the strategy for Fremantle to clear enough players and enough salary to get Luke Jackson.”
He is also of the belief that Blake Acres, who is coming out of contract, could move on after last week reporting that his management was shopping around for a better deal.
“I saw some comment (regarding Acres) over the weekend from football manager Peter Bell,” he added.
“Nothing said he’s staying, nothing was strong. It was all, ‘we’re in dialogue, we love him, he loves the club’. Well, we know all that, they’re statements of fact.
“He is very much on the market. A lot of interest in Blake Acres in the east on three and four-year deals at better money than what Fremantle are offering for one year.”
Furthermore, Hagdorn says a number of other Freo players could be moved on at season’s end.
Defenders Griffin Logue and Joel Hamling, veteran midfielder David Mundy and the forgotten Connor Blakely are all in doubt to go on in the purple and white in 2023.
“He (Acres) is likely to move, Logue very likely to move, Hamling will go, Mundy has to go and Connor Blakely has to go, he’s out of contract,” he said.
“That makes the money for Jackson’s $1.2 to 1.4 million a year for eight years.”
The Dockers, who currently sit fourth, meet Richmond at Marvel Stadium this Friday night.