21-year-old Western Bulldog talent Tim English has been identified as the missing piece to the puzzle for the rising Dockers, according to reports. Coming out of the WA system in 2016 at the end of the first round, the Bulldog is starting to find his feet in a big way at Whitten Oval.
"... The Bulldogs really rate him" claimed Fox Footy AFL Reporterย Tom Morris in his piece viaย On The Couch.
"Freo is going to have a massive crack at getting him at the end of this year."
This is despite a year left on his contract. Yet Fremantle is keen to lure the WA local home, and his rising numbers suggest he could be their long-term prospect as another key tall player.
With a highly efficient kick for a big man at just under 80% and contributing four tackles along with around 20 hit-outs in just 18 games of football - the slight frame of English is only growing in confidence and his ability is starting to show.
With Rory Lobb and Alex Pearce likely out for the remainder of the season, Fremantle is without a seasoned ruck option.
Sandilands is still around but has only played 26 games in the past 3.5 seasons at age 36, and Sean Darcy has not played since round two.
Darcy came through the same draft as English and is likely to carry the load moving forward but with Fremantle re-opening their potential to play finals, the Dockers are looking for a long-term reliable tall to invest their future in.
English would only enhance their stocks of talls, which historically have been blessed in the West as seen through Cox, Naiainui and Sandilands over the years. With Darcy as a gifted tap ruckman, Lobb the ability to go at either end of the ground and Pearce in career best form - the Dockers in 2020 would highly benefit from a young, athletic tall.
