Football
25 July, 2025
From Horsham Demons to Bombers: Hobbs shares journey to big-time
Ben Hobbs wasn't even into his teens when he decided AFL would be his future.
At the time he was growing up on a farm located about an hour from Horsham.
Just three years later he won his first footy premiership in seniors – with the Demons in the Wimmera Football Netball League – and fast forward again roughly the same time and his dreams became reality, picked at number 13 in the AFL draft in 2021.
After making his debut in round five 2022 against Fremantle, the number 8 for the black and red has played 62 games (as at Monday July 14*).
He's averaging 15.6 disposals (8.3 handballs and 7.3 kicks), 3.8 tackles and a couple of marks per match.
Recently, Hobbs chatted with Wimmera Mallee News journalist Zoey Andrews about his love for sport from early on, his life growing up in the Wimmera and what it's like to play for – love them or hate them – one of the most famous teams in the AFL.
Hobbs described growing up at Horsham as a "great opportunity".
"Away from the city, away from Melbourne, I still felt there was a connection between performing and opportunity with sport," he said.
"Seeing guys like Darcy Tucker, Jarrod Berry and other guys from Horsham being successful, I tried to follow their lead."
His family, consisting of dad Dean, mum Lisa and sister Olivia, had a farm at Balmoral, and Hobbs fondly recalls a typical country kids lifestyle: being outdoors, swimming in the river and riding motorbikes.
"I really enjoyed (that lifestyle), and I'm grateful to have the farm," Hobbs said.
"It's good to go back occasionally and help out because my dad does a power of work back home in Horsham."
Hobbs went to Horsham West as a primary school student and then Horsham College before going to boarding school in Ballarat.
Outside of school he also played a plethora of sports: basketball, tennis and, of course, footy.
"I spent a lot of time travelling around playing footy and other sports," he recalled, admitting he enjoyed equally Australian rules and basketball as he was growing up.
"I had to make a choice when I was around 15, 16, but I am glad I made the choice of footy now," he laughed.
His introduction to the sport came playing with his mates in Auskick.
"I was probably about five to 10," Hobbs said.
"It wasn't serious.
"Auskick stuff at the Demons – I enjoyed that.
"I was lucky to make the Under 12 school state team, which was huge – huge for my belief.
"Dad and Mum used to drive me to Melbourne against all these boys from the city and I did feel out of place at the start, but I was able to make the most of that opportunity."
Playing in Geelong in the national championships led to Hobbs realising his ability and a few years after that he made the move to Ballarat, which made things easier for him in terms of furthering his potential.
But he didn't leave the district before claiming a premiership with his beloved Demons.
"I played all my juniors at the Demons and played an under 14s grand final and then the next year I was playing in the grand Final for seniors," Hobbs said.
"That was huge, a big year of development for me.
"That opportunity to play against grown men, I think, has only helped me in my footy and I am grateful to the Demons for giving me that opportunity.
"I had just turned 15 when we won the grand final.
"I was young and I think Mum was horrified with it (playing against grown men) but Dad, Dad just knew I was up to it and potentially it could have a good impact on my footy down the track.
"It only gave me more confidence and as I got these opportunities when I was young it only helped me once I got to the big-time."
He may have just turned 15 when he was able to hold the premiership trophy aloft with his side, but the significance of the achievement might have been a bit lost on him at that time.
But not now.
"It meant heaps to me, the guys who have played with the Demons all the way through, and they have had a lot of success," Hobbs said.
"But to be that young, I probably didn't realise that magnitude of it.
"It is special though.
"I felt so lucky and it's something I will forever remember."
With a laugh, he added: "The celebrations as a kid after were crazy as well."
The premiership fuelled Hobbs' passion for not only the game but to reach the elite level, and he spent a lot of extra time training with the best players in the Wimmera.
"When I made that U12 state team, that was then my goal each and every year," he said.
"I was lucky enough to make the U15 state team and then Vic Country and that led into 18s, when I was lucky enough to be the captain, but it was just good to keep ticking off these goals through juniors and my parents were so supportive through it all.
"They didn't put a lot of pressure on me but they knew AFL was the end goal."
And then came the opportunity to pursue that end goal: the AFL draft in 2021.
"It was a crazy night," Hobbs recalled.
"Leading up they do all the predictions, and I knew I would probably be getting picked on the first night, in the first round. But you are never sure.
"It was amazing, though, especially to go to a club like Essendon – they gave me that great opportunity.
"And they have given me games.
"I've developed my game and have been able to play as a forward a little bit as well.
"I'm forever in the debt of Essendon giving me the opportunity and to be able to stay close to my family and live out my dream."
A Richmond supporter growing up, Hobbs said a lot of his family were Essendon fans and were happy to see him pulling on the black and red.
Asked if he still had a soft spot for the Tigers now, Hobbs said he definitely didn't.
"In my first game against Richmond I was nervous playing against Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin, guys I had idolised growing up," he said.
"But soon, being around the locker rooms with Zac Merrett and other big names at Essendon, they all just seemed human.
"It probably took a year to adjust but now it's just all part of it."
Hobbs credits the determination and grit often found in country kids with a dream for enabling him to reach his AFL dream.
"I think back to the days when Dad or Mum would drive me three and a half hours just for a tryout, and that was my only opportunity," Hobbs said.
"Now, when I get a game in AFL, I think about when I was a kid and was able to make the most of that opportunity and get myself to this position.
"Embracing those opportunities, when they have come, has allowed me to play AFL and some good matches sometimes.
"I'm so grateful though, to even play one game, let alone my 62nd this Saturday (against Richmond, in week 18).
"It's gone so fast and I think your career does fly."
There have been some big highlights in his AFL career so far, and Hobbs can easily identify them when prompted.
"Getting drafted was a massive milestone and playing my 50th game was also a special game and something I will always remember," he said.
"Any time you hit a milestone is cool, and just Anzac Day or the DreamTime game, we are extremely lucky at Essendon to play those big marquee games.
"There's been a few, but hopefully continuing to win games and progress as a team will be another highlight."
On Anzac Day this year Hobbs played in front of 92,044 fans at the MCG in the clash between the Bombers and Collingwood – and even booted a goal.
"The feeling is so special," Hobbs said of playing in any Anzac Day game.
"I have family links as well, my great-grandfather Percy, he served at war, so I do think about him and my family.
"It's a special occasion to play on.
"I have been lucky enough to do it every year and it's something I don't take for granted.
"Just the minute's silence and the crowd's roar afterwards, it's indescribable."
Now in his fourth season at the club, Hobbs has been keen to share his knowledge with Essendon's new recruits.
"I've given advice to a few of the blokes playing their first game that it isn't just going to happen immediately and being okay with knowing they have done the work and they are good enough for the occasion," he said.
"But they've been great, the likes of (Isaac) Kako, (Nate) Caddy, Archie Roberts, players who are showing so much that can only give our fans some hope going into the future."
With the Bombers currently sitting 14th, Hobbs said their goals for the rest of the season were to perform every week and show their fans and each other their best footy.
"Obviously we want to win every game we play but it's also about the process about how we do it and what we can lead into potentially," he said.
"We still aren't out of finals yet so we are keeping that in mind, and hopefully we can continue to build a really strong base to continue to be better and end up where we want to.
"But we are just focusing on one week at a time, supporting the young boys and trying to get some guys back from injury."
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