WEST Coast is expected to ramp up its pursuit of West Australian junior Rory Lobb following star ruckman Nic Naitanui's ACL injury last week.

It is understood the 206cm Lobb, contracted at Greater Western Sydney for 2017, would be open to a move to a Perth-based club next year if the right deal was struck.

Fremantle – with current ruckman Aaron Sandilands to play on as a 34-year-old – has flagged interest in the former Swan Districts youngster.

And now the Dockers' cross-town rivals have thrown their hat into the ring for the 23-year-old, as they seek a partner for big man Scott Lycett with Naitanui expected to miss the bulk of next season.

"I think both us and Fremantle would be negligent if we weren't looking at Rory Lobb," Eagles list boss Adrian Battiston told Channel Nine.

"We've been hearing that (he may want to return home), but until that's made formal, we're not absolutely 100 per cent sure on that.

"He's a contracted player, GWS will control what happens with Rory."

Lobb is a late bloomer in football terms. After leaving school at 14 and living away from home, he returned to Perth as a 16-year-old playing basketball.

One year in the WAFL was all he needed to be drafted at pick 29 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft.

Battiston also revealed the Eagles would gather their list management committee before making a decision on whether to acquire Hayden Ballantyne from the Dockers. 

It was revealed last week Ballantyne would be open to a fresh start at a rival club, citing the career change of Adelaide forward Eddie Betts as inspiration.

"We'll need to make some enquiries, undergo our due diligence, assess whether within the structure of our team at the moment Hayden is someone that provides what we're looking for in terms of improvement," Battiston said.

"He's 30, nearly 30; that's all part of the decision making process. You can't just sit down in isolation and remove that part of it.

"Plus, he's contracted, which means Fremantle are going to require something for it. That's something we'll work through as a list management committee over the next few weeks." 

Ballantyne is contracted to the Dockers for the 2017 season and is yet to formally request a trade.