Every Word Rory Lobb Said On His Move Into Defence, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Luke Beveridge, & His Own Upbringing

As Western Bulldogs Membership continued into the afternoon on 1116SEN, Dwayne Russell was joined by Bulldogs defender Rory Lobb on Dwayne's World.

Lobb's story has become one of the most remarkable in the football landscape over the past 12 months, going from VFL battler to star centre-half back at 32 years of age:

Dwayne Russell: Rory Lobb’s been good enough to join me for a chat, Western Bulldogs star defender. Welcome Rory, great to have you on!

Rory Lobb: Hey Dwayne, how you goin’?

DR: I’m really good and it’s sort of great to celebrate your career you must be pretty happy with the space you’re in right now, you’ve really found your way

RL: Yeah, for sure! I’m obviously building off the back end of last year moving positions, I’m really excited for the season ahead and really enjoyed my time doing pre-season as a backman.

DR: You’ve had a rocky road I don’t want to take you right through it, but leaving school early going north and what, did you paint up there for a while, and just get yourself right? It’s been a whacky road to get to thjis point?

RL: Yeah for sure. A lot of life lessons over my career as a football player and obviously as a young bloke leaving school at 14, obviously worked in Tom Price, worked in Darwin and then in Perth as well until about 20 years old when I got drafted. So a lot of life lessons that have held me in good stead over my footy career.

DR: Do you think the hard days have helped you in a way?

RL: For sure. Obviously bullied as a young kid, I think nothing can get as worse as that when I was really young and have obviously learnt a lot from that as a young guy and then over my career I’ve had some ups and downs but I’ve always just been able to sort of overcome a lot of things. But yeah, definitely helped me going through that as a young kid

DR: Yeah, congratulations to the way you’ve stood up to it and being a real example-setter for a lot of those kids that are out there that have those troubles right now you’ve always got someone to lean on and there’s always been someone that’s gone through it that can help you. In fact, you’ve actually evolved into an Instagram star these days, things are going pretty well!

RL: For sure I mean my partner Lexi has always you ‘you’ve got to open up a little more’. I’ve always been reserved over my career but as I’ve got older I’ve got a lot better at speaking about my feelings to people and creating those relationships throughout the club and being able to get myself in the right headspace to play on the weekend. So for sure just trying to open up a little bit more on my social media

DR: Are you a bit of a sounding board now? Do people come to you because you have got the life experience and the confidence at the moment to no doubt be talked to by guys that are young like a Ryley Sanders etc;

RL: Yeah I always feel like I try to get around the young boys as they come into the football club because I know how it feels obviously being on the outer and you come up through juniors. But I always that I’ve got relationships with those boys. I might not act my age being 32, a lot of boys still think I’m 25 so, (they’re) probably not coming for life lessons but I’ve got good relationships with a lot of the boys and try to mentor them that way.

DR: Do you think you’re a backman? Did you always think you’re a backman or is this just something you’ve discovered in the last year and a bit that seems to fit well?

RL: I never thought I was gonna be a backman. I’ve always been told that I was going to be a ruckman, I always saw myself in between the two positions of ruck/forward, and then obviously getting moved down back I feel like this is probably my best position. It allows me to play that contest, long-down-the-line game and read the ball so I feel like it is my best position now. Hopefully, I finish my career as a backman and hold down this spot, so yeah, I’m loving it.

DR: And the pressure when you weren’t getting as many kicks or taking as many marks as some people were expecting you to get.

RL: I feel like when I was playing forward I was always trying to be a selfless player and run and lead out of space trying to create space for other players and I might’ve gone too far the other way where I take myself out of games by leading out of space or trying to hold out to allow guys like Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton (and) Sam Darcy to fly for their marks and I feel like I was always trying to do that and not focusing too much on my game with kicking goals, and now that I’m a backman I’m trying to close up the space and bring on the contest and try to win the ball back for our team. So I feel it definitely suits me a lot where I’m clogging up the space rather than trying to run out of it. 

DR: And your relationship with Bevo? It’s hard to know often whether what we read or what we hear is true. How is your relationship with him? Is he the kind of guy that you can have a good debate with and get yourself through to the next level of your relationship working?

RL: Yeah I’ve always had a really good relationship with Bevo, even when I was playing VFL I was always having those conversations with him through the week, trying to get back into the team where I could. He was the big reason of why I came to the Dogs in the first place. The first meeting I had with him I get along with him really well, we were on the same page and I love Bevo. He’s really helped me throughout my career at the Dogs obviously only a short time, but I feel like I’m going to play my best footy under him this year

DR: How ruthless is he? Because it does feel as if he’s pretty strict about what he wants?

RL: I feel like every head coach is ruthless in their own way. He demands a lot of things, but he’s got good relationships with a lot of people where you always want to play your best footy for him. So yeah, I feel like he’s got a lot of good relationships. I wouldn’t say he’s any more ruthless than the other head coaches that I’ve had over my career. I mean that’s the industry that we’re in. It’s a hard industry to be in, but he’s got really good relationships with all the boys.

DR: And you mentioned Jamarra. Rather than me ask you a pointed question, can you tell (us) what do we need to know? What do you mind us knowing about your relationship with Jamarra?

RL: Jamarra and I are all good. Obviously he lived with myself and my partner towards the back end of last year. We’re still on good terms, we’re really good. I’m just hoping we can get around him and get him back to playing some footy. He’s got a few personal things to go through but we’re just trying to put our arms around him as a football club and try to get him back to playing some football.

DR: I heard Marcus Bontempelli talk on SEN Breakfast early today about catching up with Jamarra for a coffee. Is there a regular catchup with players? Are you still a regular guy catching up with Jamarra or do you kind of let him have his space? How are you playing it?

RL: I’m trying to get around him when he’s at the football club. Obviously spending a bit of time away he’s coming back I’m just trying to make him feel comfortable around the football club which is one thing when you’re not on the day-to-day program as everyone else has been on. But yeah just trying ot make him feel comfortable with the day-to-day, just catching up with him and seeing where he is at.

DR: You sound like you’re hopeful though that there could be a resolution and there’s a rosy road ahead.

RL: For sure. Obviously, he’s got to get his body right to play AFL football but that’s in the future. We just want to make sure he’s right as a person and be ready for the mental demands of playing AFL football.

DW: And you’ve got a big game on Saturday night, obviously there with North Melbourne. I don’t know how much footy you watch, Rory, but there’s some good things to like about what North Melbourn are putting together right now

RL: Ah, yeah I mean I’m a big footy-head still at 32 years old I watch pretty much every game I can on the weekend. I only got to watch the two games and I wish I was playing footy but yeah not long now, what is it? 4, 5 days, and I’ve still got a couple of mates who have gone from Freo to North in Griffin Logue and Darcy Tucker so I’m excited to play against those guys and yeah, they’re playing some pretty good football  this pre-season

DW: Yeah, I can’t wait as well and given you’re a watcher of footy, don’t be afraid to send me a call or send us a text on Midday Madness every now and then, to critique me Rory. We critique you guys so it’s only fair you give me one back. So put the number in your phone and give us a dial.

RL: Yeah, for sure. I’ll get the notepad out and give you some pointers for sure

DW: Love it. Hey, before you go. Sam Darcy, Ryley Sanders, you’ve got some guys that might actually break out this year if not to say that Sam Darcy hasn’t already?

RL: Yeah I mean Sam Darcy has given me all sorts of troubles in pre-season. I don’t usually play on someone that’s bigger than me. He’s an aggressive man and unbelievably talented and I’m really excited to see how he goes this year. I think he’s ready to tear the competition open and obviously Ryley Sanders is a very professional player, he’s worked on a lot of stuff throughout his game and I think he’s raedy to take on 2025.

DR: Let’s hope he does. Hey, you’re an inspiration Rory, well done. Thanks for jumping on the show, makes my show better, having people like you so I appreciate your time. Good luck!

RL: Thanks Dwayne. Thanks for having me.