Western Bulldogs ruck-forward Tim English should be a big target for other clubs this off-season according to Footy Classified host Craig Hutchison.
English, who has made a foray into the forward-line over recent weeks has been moved out of his natural ruck position with tall defender Lewis Young favoured at times by Luke Beveridge.
Ruck
Hitouts
Marks
Disposals
With this, Hutchison has floated the prospect of another club making a play for the 24-year-old, who is out-of-contract come the end of 2022.
โThis was a prodigy young ruckman who was going to be the next big thing at the Bulldogs - they just do not want to ruck him, even in a big final Lewis Young is preferred,โ Hutchison said onย Footy Classified.
โHeโs an opportunity for a โfixerโ - is it a West Coast with Nic Naitanui, is it another interstate club, is it a Melbourne club?"
In the Bulldogs' 49-point elimination triumph over the Bombers on Sunday afternoon, English racked up 16 disposals from his position at full-forward, including 15 hit-outs.
Across the course of the season the WA native hasn't been bad by any metric, with his averages suggesting he still is playing some good football.
English is averaging 13.2 disposals, 2.8 intercept possessions and 5.1 marks per game - all elite or above average numbers for a ruckman.
However, it's the statistics that directly pertain to his rucking abilities that seem to have faltered.
His averaging of 5.2 hit-outs to advantage, 1.7 total clearances and 15.6 hit-outs per game are all average or below average, signifying that he still has a long way to go to be a true elite ruckman.
On the other end of the panel, Kane Cornes echoed Hutchinson's sentiments.
โThey would hate to lose him, but when youโve got Darcy coming in whoโs another forward, youโve got Ugle-Hagan and youโve got Naughton, theyโre your three key forwards for the future," Cornes explained.
"If English plays, he rucks. If theyโre not comfortable rucking him, perhaps he does have to explore his opportunities and he wouldnโt be the first ruckman to do that."
The Herald Sunย reports that the Bulldogs are looking to bolster their ruck stocks for the future, hoping to gain a replacement for Stefan Martin that can pair with English.
The first-round draftee is understood to have put talks with the Bulldogs on hold in regards to a new deal, however is believed to be keen to remain a Bulldog.
The big man will need to be at his best in week two of the 2021 finals series as his Dogs side take on the Lions on Saturday night at the Gabba in a do-or-die semi-final showdown.
The last time these two sides met was in Round 4 where Luke Beveridge's side ran out 19-point winners in Ballarat, a match English flourished in from forward.
