Unrestricted Free Agent Ben Hobbs [delisted]

[The Nostradamus]

is this bloke a best 22 lock when everyone fit?

Eg) parish coming back later

 

[Vindicater]

is this bloke a best 22 lock when everyone fit?

Eg) parish coming back later

He is not even a lock for best 22 with Parish out.

 

[XhazzafootyX]

He is not even a lock for best 22 with Parish out.

What’s the knock

 

[Red Black and Blue]

What’s the knock

Horrendous foot skills.

 

[FootyGuru]

Horrendous foot skills.

I wouldn’t say his footskills are horrendous. He kicks it up and under every now and then . Hobbs doesn’t kick it far but he’s neat enough with the ball when he has time and space.

I feel it’s more his lack of composure under pressure that’s his issue. He does so well to win a less than 50/50 ball then coughs up a rushed handball or kick. Cat on a hot tin roof.

Against Geelong I think he turned more over by hand than foot, without the stats in front of me.

This is a bit of an early season problem for most players though. Season usually starts off a hot mess. I hope Hobbs can sort it out in future

 

[Ambrosia]

I wouldn’t say his footskills are horrendous. He kicks it up and under every now and then . Hobbs doesn’t kick it far but he’s neat enough with the ball when he has time and space.

I feel it’s more his lack of composure under pressure that’s his issue. He does so well to win a less than 50/50 ball then coughs up a rushed handball or kick. Cat on a hot tin roof.

Against Geelong I think he turned more over by hand than foot, without the stats in front of me.

This is a bit of an early season problem for most players though. Season usually starts off a hot mess. I hope Hobbs can sort it out in future

Yeah seems like he backs himself to absorb a tackle and get an effective handball away but too often it results in a turnover.

Looks to have stepped up fitness wise though and is very reliable around goals. I expect him to figure it out but feels destined to max out at a role player rather than a real difference maker.

 

[VinnieB]

Pies midfield makes Geelongs looks young and was exposed this year. They need multiple young mids.and Hobbs just needs a chance.

On SM-A136B using BigFooty.com mobile app

Hobbs is slow and shiit.
If he wants to move to the Pies, he can try calling our VFL team.

 

[THE_GUN]

Hobbs is slow and shiit.
If he wants to move to the Pies, he can try calling our VFL team.

He could have been your best mid in yesterdays game

 

[Chief Hopper]

If he wants to move to the Pies, he can try calling our VFL team.

He'd be playing with most of your AFL squad there then.

 

[Chief Hopper]

Yeah seems like he backs himself to absorb a tackle and get an effective handball away but too often it results in a turnover.

Looks to have stepped up fitness wise though and is very reliable around goals. I expect him to figure it out but feels destined to max out at a role player rather than a real difference maker.

I think this is fair on Hobbs.

In previous seasons he plays like he has a bigger body than he has at that time.
He is only 21 and is getting more comfortable in the midfield. He isn't a fully developed 26 year old running around.
Has looked nice, more composed in the praccy matches, though will see how he goes as the seasons progresses.

It would be money ball kind of move by Collingwood. Essendon isn't forcing him out and I'd think pies would be after Rowell if possible.

 

[VinnieB]

He could have been your best mid in yesterdays game

Nah.

But, if he has the capacity to be as good as that former bomber, D’ambrosia, sure we’ll take him.

 

[The Nostradamus]

He’s definitely not a forward

Dons making a mistake there, you either play him mid or not at all

 

[VinnieB]

He’s definitely not a forward

Dons making a mistake there, you either play him mid or not at all

Unless he can develop a clearance game like Tom Mitchell, he will struggle to be on an AFL list next season.

Very ordinary kick, severely lacks pace, always seems rushed. What can he actually offer?

 

[Vindicater]

Will either be delisted or traded for peanuts at the end of the year.

 

[THE_GUN]

Really looks like a VFL player with no standout tricks

 

[Ants]

He’s a pure midfield player being used out of position. Dominated the back half of the VFL last year playing as a clearance mid. Goes great whenever given a sniff of being played at clearances. Not a great user of the ball, but how many inside mids are? Libba almost lost the game for the Doggies with his turnover. But no Doggies fan would complain about what Libba has provided over the years.

Hobbs needs to play in the Libba/Viney/Adams/Mitchell role. Unfortunately, EFC actually has a surplus of inside mids at the moment, even without Parish fit, so Hobbs isn’t getting opportunities to show his best features.

He’s three games into his 4th season after missing a chunk of year 3 injured. He looked good in 2023, and in the VFL last year. I think he’ll be a more than solid midfielder. Just not necessarily with us.

 

[tiger_tough]

Jacob Hopper clone. Slow but solid inside mid with no tricks.

 

[SSSSSS]

Jacob Hopper clone. Slow but solid inside mid with no tricks.

A dying breed.

Unless you are exceptional in the Cripps/Libba mould, the slow inside ball pig is looking like a thing of the past. Speed and transition is king.

 

[Vindicater]

A dying breed.

Unless you are exceptional in the Cripps/Libba mould, the slow inside ball pig is looking like a thing of the past. Speed and transition is king.

Until they remove the stand rule and then fast ball movement will die and clearance will reign supreme again.

When will they do that?

Well it is the AFL so it will be at the worst possible moment.

 

[Lore]

Jacob Hopper clone. Slow but solid inside mid with no tricks.

Hopper is bigger though. Hobbs is the next iteration of the mosquito midfield at Essendon.

 

[Lore]

I think the player comparison for Hobbs when he was drafted was Joel Selwood

 

[THE_GUN]

I think the player comparison for Hobbs when he was drafted was Troy Joel Selwood

 

[Milanista28]

He's a squad player, worth having on the list, will always be in that bottom 6-8 I think

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

I still hang onto him that was one of his better games against Port. We don't have many mids like him that can win the in/under ball and feed it to the oustide.

 

[Vindicater]

He's a squad player, worth having on the list, will always be in that bottom 6-8 I think

Yep. He has enough grunt to be taken but not enough skill to be a certainty.

Hope he continues to rack up midfield minutes this week with Caldwell out.