WANTAWAY Greater Western Sydney tall Rory Lobb has settled on Fremantle as his preferred new home over West Coast.
Lobb is contracted to the Giants for 2019 but has met recently with both West Australian clubs with the Giants' permission.
AFL.com.au can confirm Lobb will seek a trade to the Dockers in what shapes as a genuine coup for a club that has been hunting a star spearhead for much of the past decade.
Fremantle is also likely to make a play for Jesse Hogan, although the Melbourne full-forward, who is also contracted for 2019, has yet to officially request a trade home to Western Australia.
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The Eagles have also been linked to Hogan, however their ability to trade for him will likely be complicated by Andrew Gaff's decision to re-sign and their pursuit of contracted Cats midfielder Tim Kelly.
The Giants put Lobb on the trade table to address a salary cap squeeze and have also allowed contracted players Dylan Shiel, Will Setterfield and Jeremy Finlayson to talk to other clubs.
Lobb, 207cm, shouldered the bulk of the Giants' ruck duties this year in the wake of Shane Mumford's retirement at the end of 2017.
However, it's understood the 25-year-old would prefer to play more as a forward and support ruckman, a role into which he should slip seamlessly with Fremantle, where Aaron Sandilands and Sean Darcy can handle most of the ruck work.
The Dockers appear well placed to secure a trade for Lobb. They already hold pick No.5 (pending free agency compensation and academy selections) in this year's NAB AFL Draft and are likely to acquire pick No.4 from Brisbane if they agree to Lachie Neale's request for a trade to the Lions.
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On the other hand, West Coast's first selection does not fall until No.20, although the Eagles should receive an end-of-first-round compensation if they choose not to match Port Adelaide's free agency offer for Scott Lycett.
With Geelong set to play hardball on Kelly, the Eagles look to have their hands full getting that deal done, which should give Fremantle the inside running if, as expected, Hogan seeks a trade home.
