Delisted 8: Ben "Goblin" Hobbs - Delisted - 20/10

[VelvetSledge]

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

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Wow, surprising. Did not think he was delist worthy.

 

[crackers65]

Not surprised at all. Slow, can’t kick and no awareness.

 

[jannissary]

c'est la vie, 20 years ago and you would've been a star, ben.

 

[boncer34]

c'est la vie, 20 years ago and you would've been a star, ben.

10 years ago he'd have played 250 games for us

 

[brutus76]

Someone else might give him a crack

 

[Calthorpe14]

At worst, he'll have a train-on opportunity over the pre-season, but I'm not sad to let him go.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

I liked him but this is a good sign that things have changed with the way our list management team operates.
He just wasnt flexible enough to play anywhere else than mid and was down the pecking order of our midfielders.

Had a purple patch mid 2023 season when he and caldwell partnered Merrett in the midfield due to injuries to alot of our other mids (with a highlight being his kings bday eve game against the filth) but unfortunately he just didnt kick on from there.

 

[YEMOC NAYR]

He was given a fair crack. Wasnt good enough.

Victim of development at the club? Time will tell as I expect him to get a gig somewhere else

 

[JT_the_Man]

Not surprised. I expect him to land an opportunity somewhere, but the more I look at him the less I see it. Just doesn't have any standout trait to make it and generally looks average in all parts of the game imo.

That said, all the best to Ben.

 

[thepokey]

Felt like he had long enough to prove himself but just never really took off. Right decision

 

[Petrify]

Very good sign from a list management perspective indeed. Glad we aren't married to him just because of his high pick. Just doesn't suit the modern game

 

[bommer16]

Someone else might give him a crack

Perhaps haw midfield?

 

[Andronicus]

Wonder if we floated a trade with anyone and got no takers?

 

[dank420_]

No more gobbling.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

Wonder if we floated a trade with anyone and got no takers?

I reckon you are on the money there.

 

[Zach Package]

One dimensional but we knew that going in so the decision to try and square peg him as a half forward was a bit of a disappointing one

 

[BratPack]

Feel for him but honestly I see his cutting as another Menzie, we know what he is, or should I say, ISN'T. Tough player, but the skills just never developed, not entirely his fault with our club but he was excess baggage here, especially once Fiorini came in.

He'll get a crack somewhere else and become an All-Australian, it's just how these things work with us.

 

[Dons4days]

Never really had an opportunity to play in his preferred position and tend to think he would have been quite good at it, but unfortunately the way AFL is played these days it really exposed his lack of pace and versatility (among other things).

Could see him carving out a nice role at the pies.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Wonder if we floated a trade with anyone and got no takers?

Yeah would’ve happened without doubt. These delisitings happen straight after trade period for a reason.

He and his manager would’ve been across this and would’ve approached other clubs with the knowledge they could get him for a low unused pick. Clearly there were no takers.

He can still hope for a train-on spot and be picked up as a DFA or rookie, another club might’ve floated that

I’m absolutely mystified how he was ever rated highly enough to be drafted where he was. He has precisely zero AFL-level traits. I don’t just blame us as I’m pretty sure he was a consensus high pick. Draft watchers would know.

It’s the right move to cut him, he’s not good enough. Dodoro wouldn’t have as it’d be admitting he was wrong.

 

[DERO]

Thought he might have been retained as some handy depth but I guess the reality here is that he wasn’t quite good enough, even for that

 

[joey_jo_jo]

One dimensional but we knew that going in so the decision to try and square peg him as a half forward was a bit of a disappointing one

I could see the value of it early in 2024, we really improved our ground ball game and tackle pressure when we had him and guelfi in forward line. but you also need to have a bit of speed, good ball use and/or goal sense. cant just be a slow tackling small fwd nowadays.

 

[bommer16]

Shame actually. Ess supp growing up.
Well at least he fulfilled the dream of playing for the dons. Good luck Ben all the best.

 

[King Patty]

Pick 13 to delisted in three years, is quite the fall. In a supposed weak draft too!

 

[dank420_]

Thought he might have been retained as some handy depth but I guess the reality here is that he wasn’t quite good enough, even for that

He played that one game in the pre-season as an inside mid and did pretty well. None during the season even with all our injuries.

 

[King Patty]

I don't think brad liked him much, like VOSS.

spent 3 years having to play HFF and never given much of a chance to play in the role he was drafted for.