Arrival: Tim English Is Here And Ready To Rule

Tim English has arrived.

Some may opt to use the word “finally” in the opening sentence but realistically that'd only highlight the universal impatience exercised by footy fans around the country.

The 24-year-old is in his sixth season in the AFL and has thus far been a ruck work-in-progress becoming a best 22 player thanks largely to his incredible skill level.

Above average contested marking and footskills, the use of English as a third tall forward who can roam as a second ruck has been effective for the Bulldogs yet left many a supporter unfulfilled.

We often afford key position players multiple years to develop their games before finding their spot yet with English aiming to play a more physically demanding position, expectation for success felt high and rushed.

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Given the infamous growth spurt that turned English into a ruckman, we haven’t been surprised by the fact his ruck work has been below average to this point in his career.

At times he jumps over smaller, second rucks but against seasoned players in the position, history has shown that the former first-round pick has been bullied to the point of ineffectiveness.

Therefore, his start to 2022 has been a pleasant development in the story of Tim English as an overall package.

Without a shadow of a doubt, English has been the Bulldogs’ best player in the opening three games of the season.

Averaging 22.7 disposals, 7.3 clearances, 7.3 score involvements, 6.7 marks, 338.3 metres gained and 4 intercepts, the improvements in his game have been otherworldly.

Opinions differ on the value of ruckmen in the AFL, although 2022 has seen a significant improvement in the efficiency of centre clearances leading to scores inside 50.

Truthfully, English’s improvements in the ruck have been incremental, rather than as significant as in other areas of his ground.

He’s getting to more ruck contests than ever before, averaging an elite 65.7 contests per game. 

English has won 34% of these contests which still rates below average, but is a career-high. Through 3 games, his hitout-to-advantage rate has decreased from 32% to 28.4%, having played big bodies Max Gawn, Marc Pittonet and Tom Hickey to date.

Given he has been at least at the league average in this statistic over the last three seasons, it isn’t outrageous to suggest English can improve these numbers, which would have a positive effect on the Dogs given the increased exposure he’s had in the position.

However 2022 has marked the first-time coach Luke Beveridge has given the ruck keys to the 207-centimetre ruckman with a formed body and his influence all over the ground is exactly what the best players in the position have been able to produce in the modern era.

English grades out as elite for disposals, marks and clearances. His disposal efficiency is at 79.4%, clearly elite while his average of 3.7 inside 50s and 3 rebound 50s is rated identically.

Adding to the elite categories he’s rated in are statistics like contested possessions, intercepts, marks inside 50, score involvements and even pressure acts.

Albeit a small sample size, English even ranks top 10 in the competition for hitouts, clearances, while being top 20 for score involvements and contested marks.

Remarkably, English even ranks 13^th for running bounces.

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All the numbers are excellent, but it’s the fact that English has become the most reliable commodity the Bulldogs have.

The use of his contested marking across the defensive half is vital to the team and will only be more important as the season goes on.

Particularly given the issues within the key defensive posts at the Bulldogs, having the confidence of the sixth-year ruck to set himself at the drop of the ball in the back 50 provides a level of coverage that helped his team stay relevant in the opening two losses. 

In terms of a being a forward threat, the work English has undertaken in the last few years as a main target doesn’t go unnoticed and clearly helps his craft.

He’s had 3 scoring shots this season and taken 4 marks inside 50 and has proven to be one of the league’s best offensive chain players.

It’s why English doesn’t get lost in a midfield that has been heralded for being so deep and dominant in previous season – the team now has a ruck is as adept in contested situations as he is as a spreading midfielder from stoppages.

Particularly given the slower return to fitness for Tom Liberatore and Marcus Bontempelli playing injured, English’s output through the centre is almost Macrae-like, at 207 centimetres tall.

It’s tough to find an accurate comparison for the South Fremantle product.

Brodie Grundy feels relatively natural as an around-the-ground player – at the same age, English is averaging more disposals, marks, effective disposals, clearances, score involvements and metres gained.

Where the Magpie is a bigger body and has typically thrown his weight at the opposition as a contested type of player, English does his damage aerially and on the outside.

Perhaps the development of Dean Cox is a type for English to aspire to. Comparatively at 24 years of age, the two averaged near identical hitouts, disposals and marks, as well as having similar scoreboard influences.

While Cox was naturally stronger, the development in his legendary game saw the contested side of his game ramp up later in his career without detracting from his influence in scoring chains, or affecting his uncontested marking around the ground.

And that, ultimately, is what we can expected from English this season and with more experience in the role of number one ruckman.

With a couple of seasons as a forward and already having elite reading of the play, the absolute base level for English is an elite all-round player.

Continuous work on ruck craft is a necessity and will be a natural focus going forward, as it has been the last couple of seasons.

But even operating as an average ruckman in the contests, English is having such a big impact on his team that the upside here feels more tangible, rather than the potential that’s been bandied around for years on end.

Tim English has arrived and the future looks scary for the competition.

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