An Essendon midfielder has opened talks on a new deal as the club tries to secure his services at Tullamarine.
Plus a Brisbane midfielder has been identified as a possible trade target for the struggling West Coast Eagles.
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HOBBS AND ESSENDON OPEN TALKS
Essendon teenager Ben Hobbs has this week opened talks on a new deal as Essendon ups the ante to secure the talented midfielder.
Hobbs is one of just two first round picks from the 2021 draft that remain unsigned. Taken at pick 13 in the 2021 draft, Hobbs managed 17 games in his debut season.
He is yet to feature at senior level after an injury interrupted summer and was again sidelined last weekend with an ankle complaint. He reportedly told the club he intends to stay at Essendon.
Speaking to AFL.com.au’s ‘Gettable’ podcast this week, Hobbs’ manager Marty Pask said both parties had opened dialogue over a two-year extension to remain at the club.
“We’re talking at the moment which is pleasing,” Pask said.
“We’re going to go down that path now of trying to work out how it looks. There’s preparedness from both parties to have him continue at Essendon which is perfectly clear and on the table. It’s just a matter of how it looks and how we get a deal done.
“He’s keen to stay, 100 per cent. You’ve got a player that’s drafted with a first-round pick and he’s in Victoria. Something drastic would need to go wrong and there has certainly been nothing but good things at the moment for him there”
ROBERTSON IDENTIFIED AS PLAYER OF INTEREST FOR STRUGGLING CLUB
Brisbane Lions midfielder Deven Robertson has been identified as a player of interest in the upcoming trade period.
The out-of-contract 21 year old has played 27 games in three years at the Lions but has struggled for early game time in 2023. Robertson was listed in the team for Round 1 before being named as sub in Round 2 and falling out of the team completely the following week.
A Western Australian product, Robertson could firm as a potential target for the West Coast Eagles if opportunities at Brisbane continue to wane, according to AFL journalist Mitch Cleary.
Robertson was reportedly targeted last year by the Eagles while under contract at Brisbane after a season that yielded eight games, including three finals.
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“West Coast last year – while under contract – had a look at Deven Robertson” Cleary said on the Tradies Podcast.
“The Lions said, ‘No, we love what he does as a defensive midfielder, he’s important to us’.
“He had 10 tackles in the Prelim against Geelong; he’s a two-way runner in the midfield.
“But he’s playing VFL, he was the sub the week before (in the AFL).”
“The Eagles could (go back at him).
“I’m not saying he’s going to revolutionise the Eagles, but he’s one that’d be on their whiteboard right now.”
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Having previously been targeted by the Eagles, Cleary believes that Robertson could look at the Eagles as a viable option should he chose to leave Brisbane in pursuit of more starting midfield minutes.
“Deven Robertson is a ready-made option at 21, he might come in and be a 10-year midfielder for them who’s already got the development under his belt.
“He’s a WA kid, they had a go at him last year and the Lions said, ‘Stay’, but now he’s playing twos.
“If I’m Deven Robertson, I’m looking at opportunities elsewhere and it’s probably at the west through the Eagles who had a crack last year.”
UNCAPPED SUNS RUCKMAN DRAWING INTEREST FROM RIVAL CLUBS
Uncapped Suns’ ruckman Ned Moyle is shaping to be one of the more in demand big men in this year’s trade period.
According to AFL.com.au’s Josh Gabelich, more than half a dozen clubs have registered interest in the 21 year old big man after joining the Suns with pick 5 in the 2021 mid-season trade period.
After being named as starting ruckman in the Smithy’s VFL team of the year in 2022, Moyle has made a fast start again this year, securing coaches vote in both games.
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Moyle signed a two-year extension last season as the club, tying him to the Gold Coast to the end of the 2024 season, as the club looks to shore up their future in the ruck beyond current captain Jarrod Witts.
Witts is coming off a successful season in 2022, finishing fourth in the Suns best and fairest, coming off the back of a knee reconstruction in 2021. Which means Moyle might have to continue to bide his time in the reserves.
The ruck merry-go-round could yet become a feature of this year’s trade period with Adelaide, Geelong, Greater Western Sydney, Port Adelaide, Collingwood, St Kilda and Essendon among the clubs that could look to bolster their ruck depth come the end of the year.
