AFL Player # 8: Ben "Goblin" Hobbs

[VelvetSledge]

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

 

[Lore]

Any idea how he went?

ant555 ?

 

[andleanback]

Apparently hasn’t even been offered a contract yet….

 

[citizen-erased]

Apparently hasn’t even been offered a contract yet….

When the losses come, the contracts will land

Gotta think of the social media team

 

[Lore]

Apparently hasn’t even been offered a contract yet….

And whose job is that…

I think this is interesting. It’s from mid-Jan probably right before he did his calf, but after he’d had his exit interview last year and been working under Brad Scott for a couple of months.

I love being at the club: Hobbs primed for season two

Some of it is obviously your standard preseason puff piece. But occasionally when they’re interviewed they put their own spin on it, add a detail here or there that wasn’t on the script:

“It was massive for me (playing in the VFL). Early on I was just an inside mid, but the coaching staff said that I need to become a two-position player, due to our strong midfield group," he said.

“I got to play a more forward role at the start of the year and then finally got an opportunity to play more midfield towards the back end.

“I have learnt so much from the other mids, particularly professionalism.

“We have a lot of different midfielders, Shiel’s breakaway from the contest, Merrett's knowledge of the game inside and out and Parish’s attack on the ball are all things I want to add to my own game.”

Understanding that this will take time, Hobbs is aiming to become more consistent as an AFL player.

“I just want to be consistent at an AFL level,” he said.

“I will look to base my performance off being a good teammate and hitting some certain KPIs.”

I would suggest that the KPIs are an outcome of the exit interviews last year when Mahoney was both GM-Footy and senior coach (and running the coach search etc with no CEO in place).

So probably he gets a contract offer that will depend on his KPIs, more years and more dollars depending on how he attacks it.

Not sure who his manager is but they don’t seem overly concerned at this stage. And it certainly doesn’t sound like he’s going anywhere

 

[andleanback]

When the losses come, the contracts will land

Gotta think of the social media team

Not offering a contract to your first round pick into his second season is strange, as mentioned he’s only 1 of 2 from that draft that isn’t already signed, and he’s played a lot more footy than most of them.

 

[andleanback]

And whose job is that…

I think this is interesting. It’s from mid-Jan probably right before he did his calf, but after he’d had his exit interview last year and been working under Brad Scott for a couple of months.

I love being at the club: Hobbs primed for season two

Some of it is obviously your standard preseason puff piece. But occasionally when they’re interviewed they put their own spin on it, add a detail here or there that wasn’t on the script:

“It was massive for me (playing in the VFL). Early on I was just an inside mid, but the coaching staff said that I need to become a two-position player, due to our strong midfield group," he said.

“I got to play a more forward role at the start of the year and then finally got an opportunity to play more midfield towards the back end.

“I have learnt so much from the other mids, particularly professionalism.

“We have a lot of different midfielders, Shiel’s breakaway from the contest, Merrett's knowledge of the game inside and out and Parish’s attack on the ball are all things I want to add to my own game.”

Understanding that this will take time, Hobbs is aiming to become more consistent as an AFL player.

“I just want to be consistent at an AFL level,” he said.

“I will look to base my performance off being a good teammate and hitting some certain KPIs.”

I would suggest that the KPIs are an outcome of the exit interviews last year when Mahoney was both GM-Footy and senior coach (and running the coach search etc with no CEO in place).

So probably he gets a contract offer that will depend on his KPIs, more years and more dollars depending on how he attacks it.

Not sure who his manager is but they don’t seem overly concerned at this stage. And it certainly doesn’t sound like he’s going anywhere

Paul connors

 

[TheGrizz]

Not offering a contract to your first round pick into his second season is strange, as mentioned he’s only 1 of 2 from that draft that isn’t already signed, and he’s played a lot more footy than most of them.

I am more interested in whether lines of communication are open and negotiations have started.

if Hobbs is keen and we are dragging our feet, I would be worried. I doubt that is the case though considering Dodoro is still there and drafted him 18 months ago.

I imagine that it might be a scenario that Hobbs and his management have asked to wait until he gets back on the park consistently and starts hitting his KPIs.

 

[andleanback]

I am more interested in whether lines of communication are open and negotiations have started.

if Hobbs is keen and we are dragging our feet, I would be worried. I doubt that is the case though considering Dodoro is still there and drafted him 18 months ago.

I imagine that it might be a scenario that Hobbs and his management have asked to wait until he gets back on the park consistently and starts hitting his KPIs.

Yeh that could be a reason, but at the same time surprised he didn’t get signed late last year when most of 1st round picks do. 1st round draft pick contracts don’t really change that much for what the stock standard second contract is, unless they’ve hardly played and look like a bust. If he’s back in the side and playing good footy it would be around the same amount as what he’d get offered after his first year.

 

[TheGrizz]

Yeh that could be a reason, but at the same time surprised he didn’t get signed late last year when most of 1st round picks do.

There was a fair bit happening at the end of last year, maybe Hobbs and Connors just wanted to wait to see it shake out.

To argue against myself, the fact it got leaked to AFL.com.au tells me the leak is from the Connors/Hobbs camp to put us under pressure, which would mean maybe they are trying to capitalise on all the off field talk at the moment, and looking for some guarantees in terms of playing.

So in short let's hope it gets done soon.

 

[andleanback]

There was a fair bit happening at the end of last year, maybe Hobbs and Connors just wanted to wait to see it shake out.

To argue against myself, the fact it got leaked to AFL.com.au tells me the leak is from the Connors/Hobbs camp to put us under pressure, which would mean maybe they are trying to capitalise on all the off field talk at the moment, and looking for some guarantees in terms of playing.

So in short let's hope it gets done soon.

Yeh definitely it’s come from connors.

Just strange there wasn’t an offer on the table after the season finished after and strong first year. Hopefully it gets done soon.

 

[Lore]

First re-signing of our first round draft picks in the last decade;

2020: Perkins got 2 years in May 2022 (middle of his 2nd year)
2020: Reid got 3 years in May 2022 (middle of his 2nd year)
2020: Cox got 2 years in June 2022 (middle of his 2nd year)

2016: McGrath got 2 years in November 2017 (end of his 1st year)

2015: Parish got 2 years in July 2017 (middle of his 2nd year)
2015: Francis got 2 years in Sept 2016 (end of his 1st year)

2014: Langford got 2 years in June 2016 (middle of his 2nd year)
2014: Laverde got 2 years in September 2016 (end of his 2nd year)


This might be why;

What is holding up the contract extensions of young Essendon trio?

Nik Cox, Archie Perkins and Zach Reid remain the only players from the top 10 of the 2020 national draft yet to have re-signed.

www.sen.com.au

Seems Dodoro generally wants to sign them for longer deals, but player managers want two years (because the club is a mess and/or so they can capitalise on the growth that young players tend to have in that part of their careers).

 

[ant555]

ant555 ?

Was one of our better players.

 

[The Devils Advocate]

Not too phased yet, Great Scott hasn't seen him play AFL level yet.

 

[Petrify]

Not too phased yet, Great Scott hasn't seen him play AFL level yet.

I reckon Scott will love him. Hobbs is a hard ass who puts in 100% effort, which is what Scott was like

 

[The Devils Advocate]

I reckon Scott will love him. Hobbs is a hard ass who puts in 100% effort, which is what Scott was like

Mark Johnson v2

 

[Yoda_]

Mark Johnson v2

more Jason than Mark

 

[Megabattimus]

Really curious how we handle him whenever he returns to the 1s. Do we put him in the midfield or keep him in the forwardline like last year?

On SM-G920I using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[MattyB3150]

Really curious how we handle him whenever he returns to the 1s. Do we put him in the midfield or keep him in the forwardline like last year?

On SM-G920I using BigFooty.com mobile app

I think he needs to earn his midfield spot in the seniors and get a string of near bog in the vfl midfield. We have plenty of fwds and defenders.

 

[Megabattimus]

Yeah agreed. He's a handy forward, but we actually have real small forwards right now. So he should definitely be plying his trade in what will be his permanent position.

On SM-G920I using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[bombers16]

Finally we have 2 bulls to play in the paddock. Oh isn't it exciting.

 

[citizen-erased]

Dyson make way next week?

 

[bombers16]

Dyson make way next week?

You'd think so. The cavalry is coming back and he's going backwards.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Dyson make way next week?

Yes

 

[MiguelM]

From what I saw, Hobbs looked hungry AF.

 

[eDPS]

From what I saw, Hobbs looked hungry AF.

That’s him in every game he plays, the footy is all he cares about and will do whatever he can to get it