RORY Lobb's decision to choose Fremantle over West Coast was influenced by greater opportunity to play his preferred forward-ruck role, and the ex-Giant is embracing the pressure to help fill the big man void in the Dockers' attack.
Lobb was unveiled in purple on Wednesday after his trade back to WA following five seasons at Greater Western Sydney.
The 207cm tall's move was confirmed only minutes after Jesse Hogan's blockbuster departure from Melbourne to Freo was made official, and the pair of marking targets are set to add much-needed firepower to the Dockers' forward line next season.
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Lobb met with the Eagles during Grand Final week but picked Fremantle hoping he would play closer to goal.
"Obviously with (Josh) Kennedy and (Jack) Darling down there (at West Coast), I thought that there was not too many key position players at Freo and figured I would come here and build my brand through there," Lobb said.
The 25-year-old enjoyed his best season in 2016 when he booted 29 goals and announced himself as one of the competition's strongest contested marking forwards alongside Jeremy Cameron and Jonathon Patton.
But Lobb didn't look as comfortable when thrust into the lead ruck position for GWS on the eve of this year's finals series.
"I rose to try to take that ruck role when Dawson Simpson went down (with an ankle) late in the season, but definitely see myself as a forward-ruck," he said.
"I just see myself being more effective as a forward.
"I felt like when I was in the ruck you're wrestling in the stoppages the whole time, I lose that bit of running and flying for my marks."
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Lobb's call to move back to WA after 74 games and 64 majors for the Giants was largely due to family.
He has five siblings – four of whom live in the west – and 10 nieces and nephews and felt the time was right to return.
Lobb had to wait until NAB AFL Trade Period deadline day for his move to go through, and was standing on the roof of his car on Fraser Island to receive phone signal when he found out Hogan's swap had been done.
Their arrival at Fremantle will put pressure on misfiring Cam McCarthy to hold his spot in a new-look attack, but Lobb hoped the competition would bring out the best in his former GWS teammate.
"I feel like if you have a healthy forward line it pushes the other players to rise and hopefully he can find himself in some good form," he said.
Expectations on the Dockers are set to rise heading into 2019 after a productive Trade Period also netted unrestricted free agent Reece Conca from Richmond and speedster Travis Colyer from the Bombers.
While he is used to the low-key Sydney lifestyle, Lobb said he is prepared for the intense scrutiny of playing in a two-team town where AFL is the dominant sport.
"It's obviously a lot different. I can go to cafes in Sydney and nobody knows who you are," he said.
"It's been a bit different since I got back, so I'm looking forward to the change and rising to it.
"Obviously, there's going to be pressure coming to a new club and hopefully we can play some good footy and go from there."
Lobb battled groin, knee and back issues during 2018 but declared he has never felt better at the end of a season and is likely to return to pre-season training with Freo's senior players in mid-November.
