Kelly was out of contract.I look at it from the opposite angle, what would we pay to have a structural player like Lobb, our best tall forward, next season? We won't find that in another player on our list already, we need to buy that. If we had to pay pick #11 this year to get him for one season and then trade him for a second round pick next season then I think it's worth the output.
Lobb to the Dogs is making a direct competitor better and us worse, Freo and the Dogs will be fighting for the same place in the finals. We can't be making them better by giving away a player we genuinely need.
They need to bleed. Just like Geelong for Tim Kelly.
Just like Melbourne will try and do for Jackson, but he is out of contract.
I'm with you regarding Lobb. No point settling early anyway given Melbourne will be watching.