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

[VelvetSledge]

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

 

[Goat Hird]

I told myself I wouldn't look at the players that got drafted after him but I couldn't help it but then again we most likely ruin their development.

 

[The Airing of Grievances]

Always a bit sad when a young bloke's dream is shattered but certainly don't disagree with this decision.
While it is regrettable this pick didn't work out , I don't think it's the strongest piece of evidence for the case against Dodoro. I don't recall many being critical of the choice on draft night. Most of us were of the view we needed to draft genuine midfielders at the time rather than trying to fashion one out of a flanker. We probably would have preferred to take Ward but Hawthorn took him first. By the time Hobbs name was called the only other 2 mids left in the discussion for that pick range would have been Cam Chesser and Matt Johnson taken by WCE and Fremantle. No one else from that draft has had any impact as an AFL mid.
I suppose you could say the fact he slid to our pick from the higher rating he had in phantom drafts and the media meant savvy list managers saw the problem, but the fact remains you can only pick what is available. Carlton have seen enough in Chesser, who granted has had a bad run with injury, to give him a second chance so maybe he'll prove to be the one Dodo should have picked, but it's far from certain he'll make it. And Johnson is still an in and out player at Freo , and there was the go home factor working against that pick.
I agree with the general view that Hobbs probably doesn't make it but hope someone like the Eagles gives him a second crack at it.

 

[Runk]

No one else from that draft has had any impact as an AFL mid.

Jake Soligo was taken at pick #36 by the Crow in that Draft.

 

[Old Campaigner]

I mean, it's pretty obvious that you just looked at goal assists and thought that it was behinds dude.

lmao

 

[andleanback]

Always a bit sad when a young bloke's dream is shattered but certainly don't disagree with this decision.
While it is regrettable this pick didn't work out , I don't think it's the strongest piece of evidence for the case against Dodoro. I don't recall many being critical of the choice on draft night. Most of us were of the view we needed to draft genuine midfielders at the time rather than trying to fashion one out of a flanker. We probably would have preferred to take Ward but Hawthorn took him first. By the time Hobbs name was called the only other 2 mids left in the discussion for that pick range would have been Cam Chesser and Matt Johnson taken by WCE and Fremantle. No one else from that draft has had any impact as an AFL mid.
I suppose you could say the fact he slid to our pick from the higher rating he had in phantom drafts and the media meant savvy list managers saw the problem, but the fact remains you can only pick what is available. Carlton have seen enough in Chesser, who granted has had a bad run with injury, to give him a second chance so maybe he'll prove to be the one Dodo should have picked, but it's far from certain he'll make it. And Johnson is still an in and out player at Freo , and there was the go home factor working against that pick.
I agree with the general view that Hobbs probably doesn't make it but hope someone like the Eagles gives him a second crack at it.

Nas? Think he showed just a bit as a mid

 

[andleanback]

So many complaining about Hobbs being let go, a guy who was a ready to go low ceiling small inside mid who got 65 games.

 

[sup3rfish]

Good decision by the club. Not up to it from what he has shown and not worth persisting with.

 

[Milanista28]

So many complaining about Hobbs being let go, a guy who was a ready to go low ceiling small inside mid who got 65 games.

Are they?

 

[bombreys]

Are they?

Was going to say, one of the few times BF seems in total agreement. Gave it a good crack, likable player - just probably not quite good enough at AFL level

 

[andleanback]

Are they?

Everywhere over Twitter and fbook: yes most of those types are delusional about players

 

[DERO]

The reverse Matrix.

 

[Foxx]

Was going to say, one of the few times BF seems in total agreement. Gave it a good crack, likable player - just probably not quite good enough at AFL level

Think im the outlier on here that thinks he's got something to offer still.

 

[Doss]

It’s a slightly curious one because if you look at the numbers alone, he played 65 of a possible 91 games, including 18 this year. Hardly a fringe player.

But I also don’t think anyone is surprised he’s gone. And as solid a kid as he seemed, I think it’s the right call. Just think he has too many limits to his game.

I hope someone gives him a shot on a rookie list - I’m not entirely sure it will happen though.

 

[Kapers]

Hey guys, been out of Australia for a few years and only watched the Swans games (yes I was up at 5am last year),

Just remembered being really impressed with Hobbs first year or so, what happened? Im getting the idea that he didnt take a step up, but what did he need to improve?

Sorry if this is an annoying post, just genuinely curious.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Hey guys, been out of Australia for a few years and only watched the Swans games (yes I was up at 5am last year),

Just remembered being really impressed with Hobbs first year or so, what happened? Im getting the idea that he didnt take a step up, but what did he need to improve?

Sorry if this is an annoying post, just genuinely curious.

Too slow, and can only play inside-mid and was passed in that role by Caldwell, Durham etc.

 

[Andronicus]

Hey guys, been out of Australia for a few years and only watched the Swans games (yes I was up at 5am last year),

Just remembered being really impressed with Hobbs first year or so, what happened? Im getting the idea that he didnt take a step up, but what did he need to improve?

Sorry if this is an annoying post, just genuinely curious.

You know how Robert Harvey, James Hird and Paul Kelly seemed to make it look like they were playing in real time when everyone else on the field seemed to be playing at half speed?

Well Hobbs seems to make it look like everyone else is in real time while he plays at half speed.

 

[Kapers]

You know how Robert Harvey, James Hird and Paul Kelly seemed to make it look like they were playing in real time when everyone else on the field seemed to be playing at half speed?

Well Hobbs seems to make it look like everyone else is in real time while he plays at half speed.

That might be my favourite description of any player. Reminds me of my time playing haha.

 

[Call Me Cake]

In all seriousness pick 13 was just too shit of a pick to have at the time, there wasn't much else that went after that stood out. Chesser went at pick 14 and was traded for peanuts. You could argue Leek Aleer at 15 but still pretty average. Just wasn't a draft for us to succeed in.

 

[Vindicater]

In all seriousness pick 13 was just too shit of a pick to have at the time, there wasn't much else that went after that stood out. Chesser went at pick 14 and was traded for peanuts. You could argue Leek Aleer at 15 but still pretty average. Just wasn't a draft for us to succeed in.

I mean go one more pick and you have Darcy Wilmot who would be pretty handy.

But hindsight is 20/20.

 

[BrunoV]

This may be the first genuinely un-Essendon thing that has happened.

It's tough for Hobbs but he clearly wasn't up to it.

As for being a touted top 10 pick. Too many recruiters can't see what is staring straight back at them. The job of a recruiter is not to draft anointed players. It is to draft players who will be quality AFL players.

Some how the version of Hobbs who is 6'5, 90kgs with top level endurance and inside hardness/intensity to match (i.e. Ned Long) fell all the way to the rookie draft. We can't keep letting these recruiters off based on Cal Toomey's phantom draft. The philosophy is so obviously flawed.

They will argue that the age at which players are recruited makes it inherently uncertain. Why then is there an over emphasis on under-age performance when players do not have the inherent qualities?

There also seems to be far too much emphasis placed on all of the metrics that have no real bearing on AFL matches, such as possession accumulation and other things which are directly related to role such as intercept marking.

They told us Will Phillips was a gun and Jye Clarke, too. Tsatas had star potential. Why are recruiters getting away with telling us with players who clearly do not have the tools to be elite AFL players are worthy of being early picks?

 

[DERO]

This may be the first genuinely un-Essendon thing that has happened.

It's tough for Hobbs but he clearly wasn't up to it.

As for being a touted top 10 pick. Too many recruiters can't see what is staring straight back at them. The job of a recruiter is not to draft anointed players. It is to draft players who will be quality AFL players.

Some how the version of Hobbs who is 6'5, 90kgs with top level endurance and inside hardness/intensity to match (i.e. Ned Long) fell all the way to the rookie draft. We can't keep letting these recruiters off based on Cal Toomey's phantom draft. The philosophy is so obviously flawed.

They will argue that the age at which players are recruited makes it inherently uncertain. Why then is there an over emphasis on under-age performance when players do not have the inherent qualities?

There also seems to be far too much emphasis placed on all of the metrics that have no real bearing on AFL matches, such as possession accumulation and other things which are directly related to role such as intercept marking.

They told us Will Phillips was a gun and Jye Clarke, too. Tsatas had star potential. Why are recruiters getting away with telling us with players who clearly do not have the tools to be elite AFL players are worthy of being early picks?

Drafting for need rather than for “best player available” might see better results.

Looking back the reactive drafting / recruiting and inability to evolve has been very average. The game has changed a bit over the last few years which hasn’t helped. Not long ago we were bemoaning the need for a “midfield bull” and nowadays they are really that important.

 

[The Airing of Grievances]

Nas? Think he showed just a bit as a mid

If you look at the context, I meant of those who were available to us when we selected Hobbs. Nas was already gone.Otherwise you could say Naicos and Horne- Francis have had some impact as mids too.

 

[The Airing of Grievances]

Jake Soligo was taken at pick #36 by the Crow in that Draft.

Fair call , but I don't think anyone at the time would have contemplated calling his name at pick 13. My comments were in the context of saying the selection of Hobbs at that pick can't be called a Dodoro shocker.

 

[Lore]

That might be my favourite description of any player. Reminds me of my time playing haha.

Wait till you hear about the egg

 

[Old Campaigner]

This may be the first genuinely un-Essendon thing that has happened.

It's tough for Hobbs but he clearly wasn't up to it.

As for being a touted top 10 pick. Too many recruiters can't see what is staring straight back at them. The job of a recruiter is not to draft anointed players. It is to draft players who will be quality AFL players.

Some how the version of Hobbs who is 6'5, 90kgs with top level endurance and inside hardness/intensity to match (i.e. Ned Long) fell all the way to the rookie draft. We can't keep letting these recruiters off based on Cal Toomey's phantom draft. The philosophy is so obviously flawed.

They will argue that the age at which players are recruited makes it inherently uncertain. Why then is there an over emphasis on under-age performance when players do not have the inherent qualities?

There also seems to be far too much emphasis placed on all of the metrics that have no real bearing on AFL matches, such as possession accumulation and other things which are directly related to role such as intercept marking.

They told us Will Phillips was a gun and Jye Clarke, too. Tsatas had star potential. Why are recruiters getting away with telling us with players who clearly do not have the tools to be elite AFL players are worthy of being early picks?

The issue is it’s hard to tell what an 18yo will turn into in 3 years time. It’s not like US sports where players are drafted in their 20s after several years in a professional environment and are mostly known quantities.