Matthew Lobbe was ‘very, very close’ to joining Western Bulldogs, says Sam McClure

A post-season trip to Vietnam proved to be the major snag in the Western Bulldogs’ bid for Port Adelaide ruckman Matthew Lobbe says, Sam ‘Scoop’ McClure.

Scoop said on 3AW the Power were ‘very, very close’ to agreeing to a deal that would have seen the Bulldogs trade pick 11 to Port Adelaide.

But there was one significant problem.

‘He (Lobbe) was in Vietnam and could not be contacted,’ Scoop revealed on Sports Today.

‘The Western Bulldogs said they would not sign him without completing a medical.

‘It got to the point where Lobbe’s manager and an official from the Western Bulldogs were even considering getting themselves to Vietnam on a plane.’

McClure also revealed there was a brief discussion about the possibility of Brian Lake returning to the kennel, before the three-time premiership-winning defender decided to retire.

Click PLAY below to hear Sam McClure explain more on 3AW.