Should first-round Don leave this off-season for more AFL opportunities?

Essendon midfielder Ben Hobbs is on the radar of rival clubs according to AFL Media’s Cal Twomey.

Hobbs, 20, has played 44 games for the Dons since being taken with pick No. 13 in the 2021 Draft but has played just nine times in 2024 as he slips down the club’s midfield depth chart.

However, Hobbs is back in the team for Saturday night's clash wth Gold Coast.

Nevertheless, Twomey thinks that if a club comes knocking at Tullamarine for Hobbs, that he should genuinely consider leaving for increased opportunities.

He also thinks the Dons would have to be accepting of letting him go given a lack of opportunities given to the likes of him and Elijah Tsatas this campaign.

“Ben Hobbs is an interesting one for me,” Twomey said on AFL.com.au's Gettable.

“He’s contracted, and it’s gotten to a point now where if a club came to Essendon wanting to grab Hobbs, I think he should go.

“I think they would probably recognise that as well. Looking from the outside in, he hasn’t been picked, a lot of midfielders have been picked ahead of him over the last 10 weeks.”

While Hobbs is contracted until the end of 2025, Twomey says that rival clubs have been keeping an eye on his form in the VFL and consider him a midfield trade option.

“He’s contracted for next year but rival clubs have definitely been watching his VFL games,” Twomey said.

“I’d be looking at him who is definitely a midfield option.”

Hobbs has picked up at least 13 disposals in each full AFL game he has played this season, but two of his last three appearances at the top level have come as the substitute.

While playing VFL, Hobbs has averaged 26.2 disposals and most recently had 34 touches, one goal and eight tackles in the Round 19 win over the Northern Bullants.