AFL Trades 2024: Rory Lobb reveals he never asked to leave Western Bulldogs, is locked into defensive move

Rejuvenated Western Bulldogs defender Rory Lobb is hopeful his club “get something good” for a duo of exiting stars as he confirmed he never at any stage asked for a trade out of Whitten Oval. Lobb looked headed to a fourth club early in 2024 as he sat in the VFL, out of favour with coach Luke Beveridge and amid reports he wanted out despite being contracted through to the end of 2026. But a move to defence after being a long-time forward turned his season around and he became a crucial cog in the Bulldogs’ backline as they made the finals, ensuring a “quieter” trade week for the 31-year-old. Revealing he never at any stage asked for a trade, declaring his only conversations with Beveridge were about “getting back into the team”, Lobb said he couldn’t wait to get back to pre-season to hone his defensive craft, loving his new football direction. “Midway through the year, I wasn’t really thinking about the end of the year. I was just focusing on getting back in the team,” Lobb said on Thursday while he was taking on LIV Golf star, and Bulldogs supporter, Lucas Herbert as part of the launch of the Australian Summer of golf. “And then obviously I had a really good finish to the season and was able to perform at a good level.” He said his exit meeting with Beveridge was all positive and Lobb was adamant his best footy, as a defender, was ahead of him, “It was really good, we had a very good chat about where I can take my footy,” he said “I had a little bit of a crash course through the year on playing backline, and the conversations I had with him and (defensive coach) Daniel Pratt was just exciting to see what I can do through the pre-season and work on my craft.” Lobb, who has been on holidays since the season finished, had little information on the exits of teammates Bailey Smith, who looked headed to Geelong, and Jack Macrae as trade discussions continue over their futures. Having been part of trade week before, and twice moving clubs, Lobb said “that’s footy” but hoped the compensation for the Bulldogs helped them be better in 2025. “You know, people come and go every year, and you have a new crop of players, of draftees, and people trade it in,” he said. “I don’t have much to do with it, I’m on my holidays, so that’s definitely above my pay grade. “They’re very good players, and hopefully we get something good for them. “We want to go all the way and we need to put ourselves in a better position, hopefully win a few more of those close games and get a second chance to be good.”