Hawthorn champion Jordan Lewis has labelled the Western Bulldogs decision to recruit Rory Lobb “bizarre” after the club axed the tall forward just months into a three-year deal.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge opted to leave Lobb out of his side ahead of a must-win clash against Sydney on Thursday night at the SCG, with gun father-son prospect Sam Darcy preferred instead.
Lobb, who joined the Bulldogs from Fremantle in the off-season on a deal worth a reported $1.5 million, has struggled to find form since his move, averaging less than a goal in his 15 matches across this season so far.
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Lewis questioned the reasoning behind bringing Lobb to the Bulldogs in the first place, with the club already invested in two young tall forwards in former No.1 pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and high-flyer Aaron Naughton, along with Darcy.
“I think (the Dogs) would’ve hoped for a lot more from Lobb. It was open the reason why he left Fremantle was because he didn’t want to play in the ruck,” Lewis said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“So it was a bizarre decision to bring him to the Dogs where they’ve already got (Aaron) Naughton and (Jamarra) Ugle-Hagan was up and coming.”
“He had to be prepared to play in the ruck and have some sort of dominance in there to give (Tim) English a spell.
“You didn’t really see a spot that he would fit.”
The four-time premiership champion urged Lobb to look at the bigger picture and “give up” his ego, which Lewis believes has clouded his ability to play the game style that has seen the Dogs win nine games in 2023.
“If he was going to keep his spot in the side, he had to put a better output in terms of kicking goals and being a better forward and really assist those forwards,” Lewis said.
“That’s where he wanted to play. Sometimes you’ve got to give up your own ego and park your ego and understand what the club needs.
“It seems he has failed to do that.”
Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes also rated the decision to omit Lobb, shining the spotlight on the successful pair in Naughton and Ugle-Hagan as the Dogs’ tall forwards.
“I really like that move,” Cornes said on SEN.
“I think Naughton and Ugle-Hagan are in pretty good form and the issue’s been behind the ball without Jones, so Darcy plays back and you go a bit smaller in your forward line. Cody Weightman is flying as well.”
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But Cornes believes the Dogs will feel the difference without the 30-year-old, considering how much they gave up to get him to Whitten Oval in the first place.
“I just like the mix a little bit more with Lobb, not there, but it’s a big omission considering the price they paid to get him at the trade period,” Cornes said.
It comes as the Dogs also left Bailey Smith behind in Melbourne, citing an illness, after the club faced scrutiny around the 22-year-old’s recent form.
Young ruckman Sam Darcy has been selected for the Dogs, in what will be his first match since round two this season.
The seventh-placed Bulldogs take on the Swans at the SCG on Thursday night in coach Luke Beveridge’s 200th game at the helm.
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