AFL Player # 8: Ben "Goblin" Hobbs

[VelvetSledge]

Contract Status: Out of contract 2025
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 12, Schnitzengruben

 

[hurlygurdy]

Yes there was a reason he played a bit of VFL footy. He had a 4 week calf injury.
Played the first 9 games.
Out injured for 4 weeks.
Played 5 VFL games.
Played the last 3 AFL games.
One thing he does have that we lack across the board is he is hard at the contest and physical.

You keep making this point and it’s true. But you aren’t acknowledging that he was not getting a lot of midfield time. As such there is a valid concern that we are holding his development back to a degree. That’s the message I’d take to the trade table with him - he is a first round pick ready to take off but we’ve held him back for unavoidable and valid reasons.
I actually wonder whether he might be worth more than people think.

 

[ant555]

You keep making this point and it’s true. But you aren’t acknowledging that he was not getting a lot of midfield time. As such there is a valid concern that we are holding his development back to a degree. That’s the message I’d take to the trade table with him - he is a first round pick ready to take off but we’ve held him back for unavoidable and valid reasons.
I actually wonder whether he might be worth more than people think.

Still gets a game which equates to coach likes his hardness at the footy. Even though he has not had big numbers playing high half forward and his game is not totally suited to it he still rates okay for most stats comparing half forwards.
I know he has his issues but we are a side that lacks physical hard at it players and he is one.

 

[Milanista28]

Port - Richards
Pies - Hobbs
Dons - Picks

Maybe? Or is Richards worth less than we'd like?

 

[hurlygurdy]

Still gets a game which equates to coach likes his hardness at the footy. Even though he has not had big numbers playing high half forward and his game is not totally suited to it he still rates okay for most stats comparing half forwards.
I know he has his issues but we are a side that lacks physical hard at it players and he is one.

I’ve got no issue with him at all. I fully expect him to become a very good player at a club that can give him midfield time. I just don’t see how we can do that? Next year looks worse than this year because tsatas looks like he will demand midfield time and actually matches a need. Barring lots of injuries hobbs will get even less midfield minutes which realistically helps no one.

 

[JayJ20]

Like others have said, I'd much rather trade Parish and Shiel so that Hobbs and Tsatas can have meaningful midfield minutes.

 

[Blind Turn]

Needs to step up. Big time.

 

[I Remember Bluey]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/essendon-contract-news-jake-stringer-activates-secret-clause-as-dons-make-call-on-jayden-laverde/news-story/a6700db1d82aeacd1aeb205d2d660fd9

Collingwood is also eyeing fringe midfielder Ben Hobbs who has struggled to cement a position in the team amid the midfield logjam at Tullamarine.

The Magpies could use pick 20 which it wants from Gold Coast for John Noble

9

John Noble

Age

27

Ht

180cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.3

4star

K

9.2

4star

HB

7.1

4star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.0

4star

MG

186.1

3star

D

14.2

3star

K

7.7

3star

HB

6.5

4star

M

3.2

3star

T

1.8

3star

MG

149.7

3star

D

18.8

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

7.8

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.2

4star

MG

229.8

4star

to help pull off deals for Adelaide backman Mark Keane and Hobbs, who was originally taken pick 13 by Essendon.

Hobbs has been likened to former Collingwood hard nut Taylor Adams

3

Taylor Adams

Age

30

Ht

181cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

24.9

5star

K

13.5

5star

HB

11.4

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

4.8

5star

CL

5.0

5star

D

20.4

5star

K

12.4

5star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

5.9

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

18.2

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

3.0

5star

CL

2.2

4star

, who was traded to Sydney Swans late last year.

 

[FrankGrimes]

no way we take pick 20 which becomes 23-25 im tipping for hobbs....

 

[joey_jo_jo]

We'd be stupid to let him go. We've been screaming for defensive minded hard nuts in the midfield, I know he has to work on his decision making but he offers a lot of other things our list lacks. Just be patient with him and tsatas.

 

[bombreys]

no way we take pick 20 which becomes 23-25 im tipping for hobbs....

I think we’d take it and run

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

Relax everyone, he's contracted and we will not be giving him away.

 

[Beerfish]

Relax everyone, he's contracted and we will not be giving him away.

I'm an Essendon supporter post round 24. I couldn't be any more relaxed.

 

[FrankGrimes]

I think we’d take it and run

He’s contracted also.. I would be pissed if we gave him away for that

 

[mcgrath_truther]

Port - Richards
Pies - Hobbs
Dons - Picks

Maybe? Or is Richards worth less than we'd like?

i’d wager that he’s increased his profile by moving into the middle. very handy rotation to have & a good ball user

 

[mcgrath_truther]

I'm an Essendon supporter post round 24. I couldn't be any more relaxed.

especially now that dodoro mightn’t win trade week for us

 

[ant555]

I’ve got no issue with him at all. I fully expect him to become a very good player at a club that can give him midfield time. I just don’t see how we can do that? Next year looks worse than this year because tsatas looks like he will demand midfield time and actually matches a need. Barring lots of injuries hobbs will get even less midfield minutes which realistically helps no one.

And 2026 and 2027 and 2028 ?
He may well have a great pre season and grab a midfield spot. Not sure you can be predicating what happens with the midfield minutes next year. Durham could go back to playing wing. Parish could play more forward. Merrett could be used at half back. There are a lot of things that could happen.
For me you do not move young blokes on because they may not get minutes in their prefered position.
There will be injuries.

 

[jdstorm]

He's not going to grow another 10cm or gain explosive pace in the next 3 years. Again it's not about him being no good, he just doesn't really add to the team based on our current mix. It just makes sense to move him on to fill one of the many holes on our list.

What holes?

Aside from big mids there isn’t actually that many that aren’t being filled with young highly drafted players or AA’s

Issue is the mix is off more than anything else. But mostly progression will come getting games into the players on the list

 

[Corleone]

He's a hold for me. He's hard at it and has a very bright future.

 

[Bjchan13]

I haven't written him off yet and i wouldn't force him out but he's not untouchable. If theres offers and he's open we should be all ears. He went backwards this year so has a huge amount of work ahead of him wherever he is

 

[bombreys]

He’s contracted also.. I would be pissed if we gave him away for that

I think he’s the one good enough and young enough to get us a good return. If Shiel ends up staying, we probably have two (definitely one) too many

 

[bombreys]

What holes?

Aside from big mids there isn’t actually that many that aren’t being filled with young highly drafted players or AA’s

Issue is the mix is off more than anything else. But mostly progression will come getting games into the players on the list

HBF
HBF
Back Pocket
CHB
Big body mid
HFF
CHF
Forward Pocket
Forward Pocket

And our depth is pretty crap outside of Setterfield and whichever of Hobbs/Tsatas can’t get a game

 

[Atavistic]

I suspect if we trade this guy to a team like Richmond he'll become a gun and we'll wonder what we've gone and done.

 

[jdstorm]

HBF
HBF
Back Pocket
CHB
Big body mid
HFF
CHF
Forward Pocket
Forward Pocket

And our depth is pretty crap outside of Setterfield and whichever of Hobbs/Tsatas can’t get a game

Assuming we are rebuilding
HB1 Redman was 2nd team AA last season and Roberts has come on strongly

Back pocket: McGrath is not going anywhere
CHB Reid/Hayes/Cox all have that as their natural position. That’s a lot of draft capital invested in that spot. Surely it’s worth exploring which of those 3 grow into that role which means there isn’t a need to upgrade at present.

Big bodied mid: Agree 100%

CHF: Caddy
HHF: Pressure Forwards: Kako, Gresham, Saad, Daveys, Perkins.

That’s the thing about young teams you need to give them a chance to grow and become the best version of themselves then you plan upgrades when in window.

 

[MiguelM]

Saying on Midwwek Tackle Pies might be interested.

If I was Hobbs I would jump at that!

 

[ant555]

HBF
HBF
Back Pocket
CHB
Big body mid
HFF
CHF
Forward Pocket
Forward Pocket

And our depth is pretty crap outside of Setterfield and whichever of Hobbs/Tsatas can’t get a game

CHF should be FF. Caddy is our CHF. Mobile. Runs at the footy. Takes marks and makes good decisions with the ball in hand but we are in the wrong thread to be talking this