Rory Lobb booted 13 goals for the season when he was deployed up forward. Picture: Getty Images

FREMANTLE big man Rory Lobb is confident he can play in the same forward line with fellow talls Jesse Hogan and Matt Taberner.

Lobb also believes emerging ruckman Sean Darcy can "make his mark on the competition" as he takes over from retired great Aaron Sandilands.

The Dockers are hoping to have Lobb, Hogan and Taberner form a dangerous attacking combination after injuries meant they only played two games in the forward line together in 2019.

Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb spent more time together in the water than on the park. Picture: AFL Photos

Lobb was forced to spend lots of time in the ruck while Hogan and Taberner missed significant time with foot injuries.

"We've only played probably two games where all three of us are up forward, so we've just got to work on our connection, but that will happen once we're out on the track," Lobb told AFL.com.au.

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"We can all cover the ground pretty well.

"Those two are really good runners and I feel like I can run pretty well.

"It saves you running if you've got talls all around the forward line, you can stay off-ball a bit more.

"It's just finding that connection and making sure we're not flying on each other when we're down the line."

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Lobb had an encouraging first season with the Dockers since crossing from Greater Western Sydney at the end of 2018, finishing eighth in the club's best and fairest despite missing seven games through injury.

He was sidelined for three games with a stress fracture in his foot sustained in round 11 against Collingwood before undergoing shoulder surgery late in the season.

Rory Lobb injured his shoulder in R18. He played one more game before pulling the pin on his season. Picture: AFL Photos

Lobb has completed every training session during the pre-season with the aim of playing mainly as a forward while giving Darcy a chop-out in the ruck.

Lobb said he's been excited with 21-year-old Darcy's development.

"He's been destroying me in the ruck in the pre-season," Lobb said.

"He's definitely hard to move around in the contest and the hitouts.

"Once he gets around the ground a bit more, I'm sure he'll make his mark on the competition."

Sean Darcy is ready to put his stamp on the competition, according to his teammate. Picture: AFL Photos

Lobb showed he's more than capable of playing in the ruck, holding his own against All Australian Brodie Grundy and Brisbane's Stefan Martin.

"I feel like I proved that last season," he said.

"If I have to go into the ruck, I'll compete as well as I can and hopefully help us get across the line."

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Lobb has been impressed with first-round draftees Hayden Young and Caleb Serong, while he expects Andrew Brayshaw and Adam Cerra to continue to improve in their third seasons of senior footy.

"I think Cerra's probably going to move back into the midfield this year," Lobb said.

"They're professional boys and I'm really looking forward to seeing how they go in 2020."

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