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  1. #1
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    How tim became an english bulldog

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    Despite a few murmurings in the days prior to November 25, Tim English was never going to slide too far down the draft board.
    A native of Western Australia, the initial rumblings involved Fremantle who could have captured the lightly-built and superbly-skilled big man with pick seven (before it became eight on the night).

    After that ship sailed, Gold Coast, who met with English prior to the draft and owned four picks inside the top 10 stood next to pounce, but they bolted after concerns that they may struggle to secure a longer investment.

    Then of course, there was Port Adelaide, who English interestingly supported growing up, but their meetings and initial interest proved to only be exploratory.

    After all, why would you select a ruck inside or around the top 10, who may have potential upside further down the track but was in desperate need to add more than a few kilos? Particularly when there are ready-made youngsters available.

    Just ask the Hawks, Cats, Crows, Power and Saints in recent times — you can usually trade for them when they’re ready to emerge.
    If by some miracle, he was around when Essendon selected for the second time, they would have picked him up, but just like the Western Bulldogs’ September run, a potential long-term ruckman fell into the premiers’ lap.

    Three weeks before the draft, Simon Dalrymple and his cohort of recruiters suspected that maybe, just maybe, the Bulldogs could get their hands on English with their selection at the end of the first round.



    But even the eternal optimist would have doubted that he’d still be nervously sitting next to his parents when Gillon McLachlan strolled up to the stage to announce the 19th pick.


    “About three days before, someone said it was a zero percent chance,” Dalrymple told Aflplayers.com.au.

    “That changed, and the information we were getting was that there was now a chance. We played the percentages in terms of our WA visit three weeks before the draft, where we thought that you just never know with ruckman, they could slip.

    “So we decided to go to the farm in Pingelly and I’m glad we did.”

    The Bulldogs, like so many other clubs in the last few years, are prepared to exhaust every avenue in their recruitment so that they can understand as much as possible about their potential draftees.

    In the trip to Western Australia, Dalrymple spoke to staff from the local café English was working at, current and former coaches from various levels including the WA talent programs, and some of his school teachers.


    “He’s driven,” Dalrymple added.

    “When he sets his mind to something, as one of his school teachers said, he can achieve it, and that’s important in elite athletes. They need to have that mindset where they want to get better.
    “It was fantastic to meet his mum and dad in that surrounding, and to give us some context around his upbringing — being a boarder in Perth is a bit different.
    “We’re pretty thorough — we don’t like surprises — so hopefully we don’t get any with Tim.”

    The draft is a different beast, and many like to contextualise right after the event with commentary around the winners and losers.

    Then, of course, there’s the retrospective pieces that will be published in years to come that will look back at the 2016 installment.

    The common perception at this point is that ruckman are a risky proposition, and potentially not worth the sacrifice of an early pick, but will this drop down the draft board come back to haunt those that overlooked?

    You’d be brave to doubt Dalrymple, who can claim the rights to drafting Marcus Bontempelli, Jake Stringer, Jackson Macrae, Luke Dahlhaus and Caleb Daniel in recent years.

    “We saw him as the best ruckman in the pool, and at 205cm he fits a need for us,” Dalrymple explained.

    “His mobility to get around the ground was a key part of it. Bevo’s big on our offence and everyone joining in, and you want the ball in Tim’s hands, which is not the norm usually for ruckman.
    “We’re confident he’ll be a good player.”

    At the beginning of April, English and his new club put pen to paper on an extension that would see him remain at the kennel until at least the end of 2020.

    Dogs fans will get a glimpse into their bright future on Saturday when English prepares to take on the developing Saints, but don’t apply the pressure too early.
    This is a long-term investment.
    FFC: Established 1883

    Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.

  2. Thanks bulldogtragic, Smads57 thanked for this post
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  3. #2
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    Re: How tim became an english bulldog

    First kick, first goal. Lock it in.
    Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023

  4. #3
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    Re: How tim became an english bulldog

    Quote Originally Posted by bulldogtragic View Post
    First kick, first goal. Lock it in.
    If we're locking in lets lock in BOG and 3 brownlow votes too.
    They've done studies you know, 60% of the time, it works every time!
    Brian Fantana.

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  6. #4
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    Re: How tim became an english bulldog

    Locked away for the next 3.5 years. Will give us a good window into what we've got.
    But then again, I'm an Internet poster and Bevo is a premiership coach so draw your own conclusions.

  7. #5
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    Re: How tim became an english bulldog

    Quote Originally Posted by 1eyedog View Post
    Locked away for the next 3.5 years. Will give us a good window into what we've got.
    Great jumper presentation too on the Bullies website. More about the Indigenous jumper from Martin Falanagan.

  8. #6
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    Re: How tim became an english bulldog

    Ozza mentioned this in another thread, didn't realise how bad the crash was.

    Bulldog English's bash and crash debut


    WESTERN Bulldogs debutant Tim English was involved in a car accident on his way to Etihad Stadium for Saturday's clash with St Kilda.


    English, who stands at 205cm, spent most of the first half through the midfield before moving into the ruck after half-time when Jordan Roughead drifted forward.


    The 19-year-old will have lasting memories of his first game for a number of reasons, including a collision with umpire Simon Meredith during the second quarter that is likely to result in a fine.


    Bulldogs teammate Tory Dickson said English's vehicle was "written off" in the pre-game smash.


    "It's not the ideal preparation for a debut," Dickson told Channel Nine on Sunday.


    "I think someone went up the back of him. I think the car was written off and had to be towed away.


    "He wasn't late or anything, but it was a nice little story for his first game."


    English, the pick No.19 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, finished with seven touches at 100 per cent efficiency in his maiden game.
    FFC: Established 1883

    Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.

  9. #7
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    Re: How tim became an english bulldog

    Quote Originally Posted by bornadog View Post
    Ozza mentioned this in another thread, didn't realise how bad the crash was.

    Bulldog English's bash and crash debut


    WESTERN Bulldogs debutant Tim English was involved in a car accident on his way to Etihad Stadium for Saturday's clash with St Kilda.


    English, who stands at 205cm, spent most of the first half through the midfield before moving into the ruck after half-time when Jordan Roughead drifted forward.


    The 19-year-old will have lasting memories of his first game for a number of reasons, including a collision with umpire Simon Meredith during the second quarter that is likely to result in a fine.


    Bulldogs teammate Tory Dickson said English's vehicle was "written off" in the pre-game smash.


    "It's not the ideal preparation for a debut," Dickson told Channel Nine on Sunday.


    "I think someone went up the back of him. I think the car was written off and had to be towed away.


    "He wasn't late or anything, but it was a nice little story for his first game."


    English, the pick No.19 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, finished with seven touches at 100 per cent efficiency in his maiden game.
    Would be disappointed to see English fined for this bit of play - with a clear run to the ball he would've almost marked that uncontested, looked like terrible positioning from the ump involved.
    Float Along - Fill Your Lungs

  10. #8
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    Re: How tim became an english bulldog

    A pretty harrowing thing to be involved in a car accident as a 19 year old. And for it to happen on the way to your first AFL game - really unfortunate.

  11. #9
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    Re: How tim became an english bulldog

    Quote Originally Posted by bornadog View Post

    The 19-year-old will have lasting memories of his first game for a number of reasons, including a collision with umpire Simon Meredith during the second quarter that is likely to result in a fine.
    Wait, for Tim or the umpire?
    - I'm a visionary - Only here to confirm my biases -

  12. #10
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    Re: How tim became an english bulldog

    Quote Originally Posted by bornadog View Post
    Ozza mentioned this in another thread, didn't realise how bad the crash was.

    Bulldog English's bash and crash debut


    WESTERN Bulldogs debutant Tim English was involved in a car accident on his way to Etihad Stadium for Saturday's clash with St Kilda.


    English, who stands at 205cm, spent most of the first half through the midfield before moving into the ruck after half-time when Jordan Roughead drifted forward.


    The 19-year-old will have lasting memories of his first game for a number of reasons, including a collision with umpire Simon Meredith during the second quarter that is likely to result in a fine.


    Bulldogs teammate Tory Dickson said English's vehicle was "written off" in the pre-game smash.


    "It's not the ideal preparation for a debut," Dickson told Channel Nine on Sunday.


    "I think someone went up the back of him. I think the car was written off and had to be towed away.


    "He wasn't late or anything, but it was a nice little story for his first game."


    English, the pick No.19 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, finished with seven touches at 100 per cent efficiency in his maiden game.
    Don't know where the likelihood of the fine came from. Wasn't even mentioned in the MRP statement.

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