Fremantle have secured exciting tall forward Rory Lobb on a four-year deal on the final day of the 2018 NAB AFL Trade Period.
The deal involves trading picks 11 and 19 to GWS in exchange for Lobb, first round pick 14 and third round picks 43 and 47.
Acting as the Giants’ no.1 ruckman in 2018, it is expected that Lobb will return to a primary forward role at Fremantle.
Standing at 207cm, Lobb brings his elite contested marking ability to Freo’s forward structure.
Lobb ranks third for contested marks taken in the past three AFL seasons with 138 - behind only Jeremy McGovern and Tom Hawkins.
Drafted from Swan Districts with pick no.29 in the 2013 National Draft, Lobb played 74 AFL games for GWS between 2014 and 2018.
The 25-year-old played 19 games in 2018, including both of the Giants’ finals. He was one of the Giants’ best in their semi-final loss to Collingwood at the MCG, highlighted by a towering mark and goal in the second term.
He will join fellow key forward Jesse Hogan at Fremantle, who was also traded to the club on Wednesday.
Fremantle general manager of football Peter Bell said Lobb would enhance Fremantle’s forward structure and bring experience to a youthful forward line group.
“Rory is an exciting acquisition for Fremantle and sits in line with our ongoing strategy of attracting West Australian footballers to the club” Bell said.
“Rory was very keen to continue his playing career at Fremantle. He is a talented player with excellent character, and we look forward seeing him help guide our young up and coming forwards.”
As well as Lobb and Hogan, Fremantle have also signed free agent Reece Conca from Richmond during the Free Agency/Trade Period.
Fremantle also secured a swap of first-round picks with Port Adelaide last Thursday, which saw Freo receive first-round pick no.11, second-round picks 23 and 30, and third-round pick 49 in exchange for pick no.6 and a future third-round pick.
Also on Wednesday, Fremantle performed a pick swap with North Melbourne, receiving second-round pick no.31 in exchange for third-round picks 47, 49 and 55.
Fremantle started the trade period holding first round pick no.6 and fifth round pick no.81 (worth 1751 points on the AFL Draft Value Index) and now have first-round pick no.14, second-round pick no.31 and third-round picks no.43 and 65 at their disposal.
Fremantle’s current hand is worth 2235 points according to the AFL Draft Value Index – equivalent to the value of a no.3 pick.
Bell said it was crucial that Fremantle was able to both add experience and talent to its playing list for 2019 while enhancing the club’s hand at the upcoming 2018 NAB AFL National Draft.
“Through this trade period, we’ve enhanced both the short and long-term prospects of the Fremantle Football Club,” Bell said.
“Our three new players in Jesse Hogan, Rory Lobb and Reece Conca will all bring something vital to the club in 2019,” Bell said.
“But we can also look beyond the 2019 season knowing that we go into next month’s National Draft.”
Bell also acknowledged the cooperation of the clubs involved in all of Fremantle’s trades on Wednesday, which includes Melbourne, GWS and Brisbane.
“Trade Period is often a tense time but in the spirit of cooperation between Fremantle, Melbourne, GWS and Brisbane, the deals got done to everyone’s satisfaction,” Bell said.
