AFL Player # 8: Ben "Goblin" Hobbs

[VelvetSledge]

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

 

[Faz 2000]

Thanks. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out. FWIW, I thought he looked the pick of the options longer-term.

 

[Lore]

Named to play in the VFL match sim this week

VFL squad selection: Practice match v Northern Bullants

Trio of AFL-listed Bombers to line up in VFL match simulation.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[Keystone agony]

Howd he and the others go?

 

[brutus76]

Hobbsy was BOG and played 4 quarters up forward and as a mid. Kicked a goal set up a few. Replaces Menzies, the Guelf or Perkins

Drapes only played 3 quarters (2 in the ruck). Not 100%. Caddy played a load managed first half as a rotating wing forward.

If DP3 doesn't play Hobbsy gets in the 22 and might have to play Shiel raw (no practice matches) if he's 100%

 

[Faz 2000]

Not in the 18, the 22, or the emergencies. Fair to say my keeper side is in disarray.

Surprised with no Parish he's not getting a go.

 

[Petrify]

Not in the 18, the 22, or the emergencies. Fair to say my keeper side is in disarray.

Surprised with no Parish he's not getting a go.

Brad Scotts been pretty clear about not rushing players back, needs more match fitness while recovering from injury. Most other guys have done effectively 4 matches already whereas he's at 1

 

[Call Me Cake]

Most other guys have done effectively 4 matches already whereas he's at 1

So Heppell just had 0 disposals 2 weeks ago right?

Whereas Hobbs was near on BOG last week with 2 goals. If any other player did that in the 2's they'd be getting a game particularly in the absence of a player through injury.

 

[fairbump_playon]

So Heppell just had 0 disposals 2 weeks ago right?

100% DE though

 

[Petrify]

So Heppell just had 0 disposals 2 weeks ago right?

Whereas Hobbs was near on BOG last week with 2 goals. If any other player did that in the 2's they'd be getting a game particularly in the absence of a player through injury.

Heppell played all the other match sims though, no?

 

[citizen-erased]

Heppell played all the other match sims though, no?

this is gonna sound brutal, but if Heppell breaks down no one is gonna lose their s**t
rush Hobbs back and he aggravates the injury, pitchforks are out.

I'd rather Hobbs out there, but i also want to see him string 20 games in this year too.
Yet to break 10 in a season

 

[Schnitzengruben]

I feel like he's either an inside mid or bust. Doesn't have the skillset or the aerobic capability to play over the ground.

 

[Yoda_]

Looked well short of a gallop

 

[FootyGuru]

Hobbs is most definitely in Essendons best 22 players, but at the moment he will need to go past Caldwell or setterfield to make the side. Is only an inside mid at the moment, at least tsatas, Perkins, Durham can play through the flanks and wings.

 

[citizen-erased]

Hobbs is most definitely in Essendons best 22 players, but at the moment he will need to go past Caldwell or setterfield to make the side. Is only an inside mid at the moment, at least tsatas, Perkins, Durham can play through the flanks and wings.

Probably the one that makes way for parish

 

[Old Campaigner]

So we’ve gone a decade without drafting an inside mid and now within a couple of years we’ve accumulated too many to fit in the side. Wonderful list management

 

[andleanback]

Hobbs is a decent player, but man I hate that we didn’t bid on Mitch owens

 

[Nicholas61]

Hobbs is a decent player, but man I hate that we didn’t bid on Mitch owens

Early days but the Saints seemed to do very well at that draft.

 

[brutus76]

Needs to play multiple games like Perkins and Caldwell but whilst we persist with older statesmen like Kelly, Hind and Hepp he won't get a go.

Mind you is a great player in AFL2K23. He and Caldwell are my HFF.

 

[eth-dog]

Hobbs is a decent player, but man I hate that we didn’t bid on Mitch owens

If we did he'd have been ours. Couldn't match inside 20

 

[ant555]

Needs to play multiple games like Perkins and Caldwell but whilst we persist with older statesmen like Kelly, Hind and Hepp he won't get a go.

Mind you is a great player in AFL2K23. He and Caldwell are my HFF.

Problem with this statement is you named three blokes who do not play the same position. He is an inside midfielder with some forward ability. Kelly / Heppell / Hind are not keeping him out of the side. Perkins / Setterfield / Caldwell / Durham are keeping him out of the side. Are you saying we should be playing Hobbs in defense ?

 

[andleanback]

If we did he'd have been ours. Couldn't match inside 20

Yep it sucks. At the time I thought it could be a slight reach going for Owens, but knowing st Kilda couldn’t match

 

[Chief Hopper]

Problem with this statement is you named three blokes who do not play the same position. He is an inside midfielder with some forward ability. Kelly / Heppell / Hind are not keeping him out of the side. Perkins / Setterfield / Caldwell / Durham are keeping him out of the side. Are you saying we should be playing Hobbs in defense ?

Of Perkins / Setterfield / Caldwell / Durham, I'd only pick Caldwell as the player likely to miss out from Hobbs.
Which kinda sucks as Caldwell has been playing alright.

 

[TheFrenchCut]

I am a fan but two things he needs to get out of his game:

• he continually thinks he has way more time than he actually does at stoppages. Feel like he gets done holding the ball a lot
• kicking no reason bananas/checksides when passing around the ground or getting the clearance. No penetration in the kick, and makes it genuinely tough for your teammates

 

[fairbump_playon]

He’ll be ok. Just not running on top of the ground at present. The injury has shaved a bit of condition off him I reckon. At his best he gets a lot of marks on the lead in transition. Just not finding the space yet. Will always be hard as nails.

 

[Happyskeret]

I just finished watching the replay and one thing that stood out about Hobbsy is the one percenters he does. Little tap ons and putting his body on the line. Acts that don’t fill the stat sheet. A lot of those efforts resulted in scoring chains.