Out-of-favour Western Bulldog Rory Lobb could become a trade target for rival clubs, with a positional squeeze occurring at the Kennel.
With the club likely to throw everything to ensure All-Australian ruckman Tim English stays in the red, blue and white, and the emergence of Sam Darcy, Lobb may well be out of a position under coach Luke Beveridge.
With one year to go on his contract (ending 2025), the 31-year-old will be on the radar of opposition sides, according toย Channel 7's Mitch Cleary.
"It will be one to watch as the season unfolds," Clear said.
"If English stays, I expect other clubs to come hard for Rory Lobb."@cleary_mitch's report on what the future could look like for a few Bulldogs... pic.twitter.com/TRIxVKC8QT
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"Sam Darcy has taken his spot in attack and they are going with Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Aaron Naughton.
"The way I expect this to unfold is that if Tim English was to stay at the Western Bulldogs, he has got strong offers to return home to WA, particularly at the Eagles, then expect other clubs to come hard for Rory Lobb.
"He's got one year to run, he's just turned 31 and he was linked to St Kilda a couple of seasons ago when he made the move initially to the Kennel.
"Watch this space on Rory Lobb... he's got plenty of footy left in him."
Lobb has responded well in his two VFL games since then with nine goals, 16 marks and 44 hitouts to his name, but he is seemingly aware he could be set for a longer stint in the reserves.
However, Ugle-Hagan's imminent re-signing at the Bulldogs will further the agenda of the former Giant being on the outer.
Despite the former Pick 1 has attracting interest from rival clubs,ย Channel 9's Tom Morris believes that "Jamarra Ugle-Hagan isn't going anywhere."
โHe hasn't re-signed yet, but he will. It will be a two or four-year deal and you can lock it in that he'll be at the Dogs for the foreseeable future.
"It's been widely reported that the Hawks have interest, Richmond, Collingwood, Essendon, Sydney, these sorts of clubs were weighing up what they could offer him and how long that deal could be.
โThe order of events here is that his management has told clubs over the past few days that he'll be staying at the Dogs. Yesterday the Dogs were informed by his manager Robbie D'Orazio that he will be staying and now it's just a matter of getting a deal done.โ
This will be a welcome signing after Naughton re-committed to the Dogs until the end of 2032 late last year.
Aside from English, midfielder Bailey Smith's future appears to be up in the air as he recovers from an ACL injury.
The Bulldogs have put forward a two-year deal - which will take Smith to free agency - but is likely to be put on hold until later in the year.
Father-son gun Tom Liberatore also extended his time at the Kennel, penning a one-year contract and locking himself in until the conclusion of 2025.
