Rory Lobb’s former Fremantle teammates didn’t even wait for the first bounce to get stuck into him in Friday night’s Len Hall Tribute blockbuster.
Lobb, who moved to the Western Bulldogs in a trade that ended with the star throwing “grenades” on his way out the door, was knocked to the ground before the ball was bounced after players came from everywhere to get involved in the push and shove.
“They’ve gone after him! It’s all in!” Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon said.
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“Here it goes – the old player, they’ve gone straight to Rory Lobb.
“This gets the juices flowing.
“It’s on here for everyone. Now we’re up and about.”
Fellow Fox Footy commentator Jordan Lewis was impressed by Fremantle’s physical approach.
“I’d like it to continue all game – when he comes near the ball, give it to him!” he said.
The trouble started when Dockers captain Alex Pearce went straight to Lobb and bumped him.
He then grabbed Lobb’s jumper in a move that saw Dogs forwards including Aaron Naughton and Arthur Jones come rushing in.
Lobb could only smile as the scuffle broke up and he was left one-on-one with Brennan Cox.
The push and shove comes after a Perth beer company made a special ‘Lobster’s Tears’ beer – complete with a crying lobster wearing Lobb’s old jumper 37 on it – to mark Lobb’s return to WA.
7News reporter Ryan Daniels said there was no doubt Lobb wouldn’t get a great reception at Optus Stadium.
“The boos will be coming tonight – I can guarantee it,” he said on Triple M.
“It’ll be feral, it’ll be hostile.
“It’s not because he left – players leave right. Griffin Logue left, he’s still got a lot of mates at the club, Darcy Tucker left – needed to get some games at North Melbourne. It’s how you leave that’s important.
“He left a couple of comments… basically said he wasn’t coached properly. (Now he’s) finally getting the right relationship with the coach. Disconnect with the coaches and Justin Longmuir.
“These are grenades you’re throwing as you go out the door.
“Rory’s a nice guy… he’s not a vindictive dude.
“Freo fans will forget that very quickly… they don’t care and why you said it – they just know that you said it.
Fremantle footy boss Peter Bell previously labelled Lobb’s exit comments as “misguided” and reiterated his disappointment speaking pre-game on Friday night.
“I thought the last year – the facts are there that was Rory’s career best year by a fair margin,” he said on 3AW.
“I thought a little more gratitude could have been shown.”
Bell denied players were instructed to give Lobb extra attention – but said he had no doubt Lobb had it coming from fans.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said Lobb was prepared for the hostile welcome back.
“Rory’s expecting (the boos), and we’ll help him deal with it and we’ll help him play as well as he can,” Beveridge said on Thursday.
“I don’t think the booing of Rory Lobb is going to be an issue.
“It‘s definitely topical when it comes to other players at different times, but we just need to welcome it and (welcome) the hostile environment we’re going to walk into.”
