Collingwood has been linked to a surprise move for Western Bulldogs forward Rory Lobb, who has currently fallen behind talls Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy.
The Pies - who have longed for a key forward since Travis Cloke departed the club at the end of 2015 - are still longing for depth despite the club plucking warhorse Brody Mihocek from the VFL in 2018 and luring Dan McStay from Brisbane ahead of the 2023 season.
Lobb has only featured in three games so far this season under Luke Beveridge, who has made it clear which direction the club is set to go.
SEN reporter Michaelangelo Rucci revealed on Tuesday that Collingwood is set to make a play for the 31-year-old.
“If I was to fast-forward to the end of this year, Rory Lobb would be at Collingwood,” Rucci said
“I'm hearing Collingwood is going to make an approach to his management.”
If Lobb were to depart the Kennel, he'd be moving onto his fourth AFL club after multi-year stints at both GWS and Fremantle before the Bulldogs.
The 206cm forward-ruck was originally drafted by the Giants with Pick 29 in the 2013 National Draft before requesting a trade back to his home state after five years.
Despite showing good form in 2022 and leading the Dockers' goal-kicking, Lobb sought a fresh opportunity in a brand new state, landing at the Western Bulldogs.
Albeit playing consistent VFL football, Beveridge still believes that the former Giant has a role to play at the club.
“As a guy in his early 30s, he didn't play a lot of footy as a teenager, and if anyone's gonna have a long career, it's Rory Lobb,” Beveridge said a month ago.
“So I see him as having another half-a-dozen years in the game and I think he's got a really long period in his career ahead of him.
“And that's important to remind him of, too - he just needs to persevere through this part.
“He's absolutely (a) significantly required and needed player at our club and I hope that half-dozen years he's got left in him are with us.”
The Pies reported consideration could come as Mason Cox nears the end of his career as a 33-year-old who didn't play football until a decade ago.
Mihocek is also on the wrong side of 30 whilst McStay has only played 14 games for the club, including missing out on the record-equalling 16th premiership.
AFL Four Club Players
The most recent four-club players are Tom Hickey (Gold Coast, St Kilda, West Coast and Sydney) and Ben Hudson (Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane and Collingwood).
Other notable four-club players include Martin Pike, Phil Carman, Scott Cummings, Geoff Raines, Justin Murphy, Richard Osborne, Matthew Clarke, Peter Francis, Brian Wilson and Adrian Fletcher (including Brisbane Bears/Lions).
Dale Kickett played for five clubs – Fitzroy, West Coast, St Kilda, Essendon and Fremantle.
