Port Powin Dubai for an 8-day training camp. Courtesy: Sarah Reed, The Advertiser
Matthew Lobbe, in Dubai for Power training, has re-signed with Port Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia
PORT Adelaide has stitched up another key part of its on-field future, with ruckman Matthew Lobbe re-signing until the end of the 2019 season.
Lobbe, who was due to fall out of contract at the end of next year, has put pen to paper on a new four-year deal.
The long term contract will almost certainly see the 25-year-old finish his career at Alberton.
Lobbe joins a host of key players in committing to the Power until at least the end of the 2016 season, ensuring coach Ken Hinkley can have a strong crack at the flag in the next two years.
They include captain Travis Boak, club champion Robbie Gray, gun recruit Paddy Ryder, Brad Ebert, Jackson Trengove, Hamish Hartlett, Ollie Wines and Chad Wingard.
"I love playing with this footy club, I think we've got some great people involved, and I'm really excited about the direction we're heading,'' said Lobbe, who described the decision to re-sign as "easy''.
"I love being a part of this playing group, I've got some great mates here and we're all committed to getting better.''
Lobbe played 24 games this year for a career tally of 67 since debuting in 2010.
After battling a succession of injuries early in his career, the 200cm big man produced a career-best 2014 campaign, almost single-handedly carrying the ruck load as Port went within a kick of making the grand final.
Lobbe averaged 10.5 disposals, 6.5 tackles and 31.7 hit-outs.
With former Bomber Ryder now on board, Lobbe will get some major support in the ruck and will therefore dedicate much of his pre-season training to improve his forward line work.
Coach Ken Hinkley wants to use both men in his side, rotating them between the ruck and attack where they would support Port's only two recognised key forwards Jay Schulz and Westhoff.
Port Adelaide's Matthew Lobbe takes a mark over Hawthorn. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: News Corp Australia
"I'll be working a lot on my forward line stuff to try to be a bit more versatile in playing ruck and forward,'' Lobbe said from Dubai, where the Power players are being put through a searching pre-season training camp.
"Having two ruckmen gives you the opportunity to be more flexible and I'm excited about that.''
Hinkley described Lobbe - taken at pick 16 from Victorian TAC Cup side Eastern Ranges at the 2007 national draft - as "a fierce competitor and terrific leader''.
"He's just a great person to have at our football club," he said.
Lobbe said Port was getting "smashed'' by fitness coach Darren Burgess in Dubai and expected training "to get worse''.
Port Powin Dubai for an 8-day training camp. Courtesy: Sarah Reed, The Advertiser
Robbie Gray has re-signed with Port Adelaide until the end of 2018 with the aim to be a one-club player.
Burgess is working his players from 8.30am to 5pm each day, with a short break for lunch.
Power veteran Kane Cornes, who ran a personal and club best 3km time trial at the age of 31 when the Port senior players returned to training last week, has again led the way in track work, dominating the running drills.
The NAS staff have tried to make the Power feel at home, fixing a Port banner on the main indoor training centre and erecting club and sponsorship signage around the running track.
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