THE journey of Matthew Lobbe is an interesting one.
As the former Port Adelaide ruckman puts it: “I still feel like I’ve got a lot of good AFL footy ahead of me”. For Bluebaggers, that was evident at the weekend.
Lobbe put together his best performance for his new club against Fremantle, collecting 14 disposals, five marks (two contested), 28 hitouts and a goal at Optus Stadium.
“I still feel like I’ve got better footy left in me,” Lobbe said.
“That’s why I’m here, that’s why I wanted to get traded here in the first place. I’m excited about giving as much as I can to this club.”
Sunday’s game against Fremantle marked Lobbe’s fourth in what’s been a solid month for the veteran, who had been biding his time and driving standards at the Northern Blues since coming across to his new club.
After a season interrupted by quad and hamstring injuries to open the year, Lobbe expressed his relief at returning to the elite stage for the first time since 2016.
“I loved being back out there on that stage. All year I've wanted to play for Carlton,” Lobbe said.
“I’ve wanted to help us win games and help the younger guys the best I can, to play footy the way we want to. It was something I’d thought about for a long time.
“The injury was frustrating, because you’re so eager to impress. I was pretty nervous before the Hawthorn game but five minutes before running out, the nerves went away and it was pure excitement again.”
His chance came in unfortunate circumstances. He played his first game in the Old Dark Navy Blue after Matthew Kreuzer’s unavailability due to an elevated heart-rate.
Despite arriving at Carlton as a 29-year-old, Lobbe’s open-mindedness has led him to learn from his counterparts at Ikon Park.
“I had a good pre-season battling with Matthew Kreuzer and Andrew Phillips. We’ve all had our little niggles and been out of training and playing,” Lobbe said.
“I always enjoy the different ways in which ruckmen play. ‘Kreuz’ is a different ruckman, unlike anybody else in the game.
“Learning how to compete against him is only going to help improve my game.”
Lobbe was taken 15 picks after Kreuzer in the 2007 AFL draft, with Ben McEvoy joining them in a group of three ruckmen taken in the first round.
Casting his mind back to his trade at the end of last year, Lobbe said the only thing comparable was that day in November 2007.
“When it happened, it felt exactly like draft day — it’s the only thing I can compare it to. I was so excited,” Lobbe recalled.
“I found out the day before the trade that Carlton was interested. That’s how late it was. I jumped on a plane, came over for a meeting and a medical, and I had that night to get my head around it.
“It all happened really quickly. With an hour to go in the trade period, it went through.”
As someone who was in that position as a high draft pick to playing in five finals, Lobbe — who is four games shy of his 100th game — has embraced his status as a leader and mentor on the track.
In fact, he believes one of the most rewarding things has been the work he’s done with some of the Club’s up-and-comers.
“I’ve loved working with Tom De Koning and Harry McKay this year. The way I see my role is driving the standards and habits of the younger guys as best I can,” Lobbe said.
“My first impression was there are a lot of good youngsters with great attitudes, in terms of how they go about their footy. And they’ve got a lot of talent.
“‘Bolts’ and the other coaches are teaching them the right way to go about their footy, right from the very start. I think with the continuity of training, the group is going to gel really well and become a strong force.”
