Leigh Matthews has lauded Western Bulldogs defender Rory Lobb for his outstanding performance in round 19. Originally a ruckman and key forward, Lobb’s switch to defense was pivotal in the Bulldogs’ 47-point victory over Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night. This shift in position comes after Lobb expressed his desire to leave Whitten Oval at the end of the season, potentially making the 31-year-old a member of his fourth AFL club, following stints at GWS and Fremantle.
Despite initially falling out of favor with coach Luke Beveridge earlier this year, Lobb has revitalized his career in the backline, notably neutralizing Geelong star Jeremy Cameron in the recent match. Lobb’s impressive stats included 21 disposals and nine marks, a stark contrast to his earlier struggles to score goals at the start of 2024.
Beveridge has been impressed by Lobb’s transformation and dedication, remarking after the win over Geelong, “His spot in the team, if he’s fit, shouldn’t be questioned. We’ve found a way forward with him. I love the fact that he’s got peace of mind, not just in his footy, in his professional life, just in general. It’s awesome.”
Matthews echoed this praise, noting Lobb’s significant impact as a center half-back over the past three weeks. Speaking on Nine’s Footy Furnace, Matthews highlighted the discussions about whether forward Aaron Naughton should move back to defense, but emphasized Lobb’s exceptional performance instead. “There’s been a lot of talk like, ‘should (forward Aaron) Naughton go back?’ … but he’s been terrific, Rory Lobb.”
Matthews also stressed the importance of Lobb and fellow defender Buku Khamis continuing to strive for improvement to secure their spots as the Bulldogs aim to break into the top eight, with only five rounds left in the season. He remarked, “But he still has to prove it, over the weeks and months. But just at the moment, he and Buku Khamis … they probably started fourth or fifth as defensive options, a couple of months ago. Now they might be one-two (key defenders).”
Currently, the Bulldogs sit ninth on the ladder, just half a game shy of the top eight. They face the ladder-leading Swans at the SCG on Sunday afternoon, a crucial match for their finals aspirations.
