Paul Hasleby praises GWS for interest in Jarrod Brander after missing out on Fremantle’s Rory Lobb

Catherine HealeyThe West Australian
Camera IconJarrod Brander remains without an AFL club heading in to 2022. Credit: Robert Cianflone/AFL Photos

Greater Western Sydney have been praised for their attempts to secure discarded Eagle Jarrod Brander in a “cheap version” of the deal for Fremantle’s Rory Lobb.

Former Dockers great Paul Hasleby says the Giants made a “smart move” by showing interest in 22-year-old Brander, who remains without an AFL club in 2022 despite being a former first round draft pick.

Lobb had attempted to return to his original club earlier this month, despite being contracted on $700,000 a season for another two years at Fremantle.

When no deal could be struck between the Dockers and GWS, the trade was thrown out the window.

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“They chased Rory Lobb, they need another key forward, they lost (Jeremy) Finlayson,” Hasleby said on 6PR.

“This is a cheap version isn’t it?

“Rory Lobb’s a good player, but he’s not a great player and he would have cost (GWS) a good pick and also the wage.

“You go towards Jarrod Brander, it’s a free hit.”

Camera IconJesse Hogan has found a new home at GWS. Credit: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

Hasleby said the decision to give Brander another shot would not be dissimilar to the club’s lifeline thrown to ex-Docker Jesse Hogan at the end of 2020.

“I expect them to give (Brander) an opportunity,” he said.

“It becomes about what position. You need to settle him down.

“The beauty is, if he does fail as a forward, there’s back up options.”

But Hasleby warned Brander needed to learn lessons from his four years at West Coast if he was to succeed at a second AFL club.

“He needs to learn from this,” he said.

“I think there’s an attitude adjustment that maybe needs to happen, where (you say) ‘Ok, I’m not as good as I thought’.

“I think he can become a good player.”

AFL clubs need to submit their final player list by Monday, November 29.

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