Fremantle tall Rory Lobb is anticipated to have his name among the rumour mill headlines for the second straight year as Victorian clubs reportedly circle the Docker.
Lobb was a surprise figure in last year's trade window, having his name mooted for a potential return to the GWS Giants despite being contracted with Fremantle.
The 29-year-old is stood to earn an estimated $700,00 per season, with his high price among several factors as to why a move back to New South Wales fell through.
"We exhausted all avenues to try and assistย GWS facilitate this trade in which we believe all parties would benefit in the long run," Lobb's manager Colin Young said in a statement last year.
"I advised all parties at 7.30pm Sunday evening by email that this trade would not get off the ground so we should all move on."
Ruckman are set to be an in-demand asset again this season, namely among Western Australia clubs as off-contract duo Tim English and Luke Jackson continue to be linked to returns home.
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Despite still being tied to the Dockers until the end of next year, it is believed clubs are beginning to show interest in Lobb's services this season.
Speaking to Fox Footy,ย reporter John Ralph said "at least three Victorian clubs" have shown some level of intrigue into the 125-game
โHe nearly got to GWS last year but the price wasnโt right in the end and fell over,โ Ralph said.ย
โThis year I think heโll be on the move again and there are at least three Victorian clubs (showing interest).โ
โThere are clubs that want ruck forwards out there. Thereโs a lot of them.
โYou can probably look at Essendon today, you can look at clubs like St Kilda, who have just lost Jack Hayes, Iโm not saying thatโs the club, but thatโs the type of player.โ
Lobb switched back to his home state of Western Australia at the end of the 2018 season after 74 games with the Giants, who received Picks 11 and 19 after giving up the 207cm target and selections 14, 43 and 47.
The Bassendean product is the latest key position Docker to be gaining reported interest from Victorian clubs this season, with defender Griffin Logue also understood to be on the radar of rivals.
Logue is currently unsigned for next season and is currently holding down a highly-contest spot in Justin Longmuir's backline in 2022.