Western Bulldogs V Essendon - Pre-Season 15/2/25 Whitten Oval 2.00pm

[jeemak]

So it’s his fault he is not a bullocking ruck and it is his fault the club plays him as a first ruck. You might as well throw in climate change and inflation as well.

You might not recall in 2022 he was in two minds as to whether to stay at the Bulldogs, and whilst not directly stated by his manager and our coach, it was heavily implied his retention was based on playing first ruck.

For the record, I'm not a Tim detractor and I think his supposed flaws are overexamined and overemphasised.

[doggies ftw]

Say what you want about the role of a modern ruckman and how good our midfield is etc etc but facts are since English got to the club 9 years ago we’ve had the best midfield group across that time we’ll likely see in some of our lifetimes (a mix of Bont, Libba, Treloar, Macrae, Baz, Dunks and support) and we’ve won 3 finals, all in the one year.

Funnily enough those 3 finals were won in the one year we moved away from Tim as the first ruck…

Not laying this blame all at the feet of Tim by any means, but at some point it needs to be assessed whether you can consistently win important games of football when your ruckman is not just beaten, but bullied to the point of being uncompetitive whilst opposition midfields get it served on a platter. It all starts at the coalface after all and you don’t need a gun there but you need someone who can halve a contest at worst and throw his weight around.

Again I think Tim could be one of the biggest weapons in the comp when used correctly he has undeniable talent, just, unarguably, a poor ruckman. People like to throw the AA selection out there yet when an AA selection doesn’t go their way will be quick to write it off as a panel of nuffies who don’t watch the games he got that based on stats alone, and his stats are off the charts. Unfortunately stats don’t win us finals

Will leave it at that, because this is clearly the way the coaches want to go so Bev will live and die by this sword. I really do hope he can finally give us what we need from him, and it wouldn’t totally surprise me if he did he’s clearly got the talent but I’m losing hope with every year which goes by…

[The Underdog]

For someone who’s not blaming Tim you sure seem to be making the case that it was his fault and he ****ing sucks.

[doggies ftw]

How exactly am I saying that? I’m clearly saying this has to be a consideration. Does it not?

[kickit2Koly]

Funnily enough those 3 finals were won in the one year we moved away from Tim as the first ruck…


Steph Martin played 7 games in 2021 and only played in the PF and GF. English Rucked solo for most of that year including in 2 of our 3 finals wins.

[josie]

Say what you want about the role of a modern ruckman and how good our midfield is etc etc but facts are since English got to the club 9 years ago we’ve had the best midfield group across that time we’ll likely see in some of our lifetimes (a mix of Bont, Libba, Treloar, Macrae, Baz, Dunks and support) and we’ve won 3 finals, all in the one year.

Funnily enough those 3 finals were won in the one year we moved away from Tim as the first ruck…

Not laying this blame all at the feet of Tim by any means, but at some point it needs to be assessed whether you can consistently win important games of football when your ruckman is not just beaten, but bullied to the point of being uncompetitive whilst opposition midfields get it served on a platter. It all starts at the coalface after all and you don’t need a gun there but you need someone who can halve a contest at worst and throw his weight around.

Again I think Tim could be one of the biggest weapons in the comp when used correctly he has undeniable talent, just, unarguably, a poor ruckman. People like to throw the AA selection out there yet when an AA selection doesn’t go their way will be quick to write it off as a panel of nuffies who don’t watch the games he got that based on stats alone, and his stats are off the charts. Unfortunately stats don’t win us finals

Will leave it at that, because this is clearly the way the coaches want to go so Bev will live and die by this sword. I really do hope he can finally give us what we need from him, and it wouldn’t totally surprise me if he did he’s clearly got the talent but I’m losing hope with every year which goes by…

Yep. I’m with ya Doggies ftw. Exactly my thoughts.

Been said in here a fair bit fair number of the good games we played in 2021 was with Stef Martin as main ruck. Just a pity his body didn’t hold up & that we lured him 2 years too late. I still think we erred not persevering with Sweet as main ruck and Tim as 2nd ruck, even though Sweet wasn’t calibre of S Martin in his prime.

[Sedat]

Steph Martin played 7 games in 2021 and only played in the PF and GF. English Rucked solo for most of that year including in 2 of our 3 finals wins.

Lewis Young was selected as 1st ruck in the first 2 finals (against Essendon and Brisbane). Young was then dropped for Stef Martin in the PF when he was passed fit to play.

English was not selected as 1st ruck in any of those 2021 finals.

[kickit2Koly]

Lewis Young was selected as 1st ruck in the first 2 finals (against Essendon and Brisbane). Young was then dropped for Stef Martin in the PF when he was passed fit to play.

English was not selected as 1st ruck in any of those 2021 finals.

Aah you’re right, I forgot about that.

[Before I Die]

You might not recall in 2022 he was in two minds as to whether to stay at the Bulldogs, and whilst not directly stated by his manager and our coach, it was heavily implied his retention was based on playing first ruck.

For the record, I'm not a Tim detractor and I think his supposed flaws are overexamined and overemphasised.

Yep, I appreciate you were not out to pot English. And I do remember 2022. I would imagine it is standard procedure for a player considering a contract offer to seek clarification around the role the club has planned for them, and to express their own preferences. However, that intent would not be binding as lists and form change. Surely English is being selected as first ruck by the MC because they believe he is the best option for that role..

[jeemak]

Lewis Young was selected as 1st ruck in the first 2 finals (against Essendon and Brisbane). Young was then dropped for Stef Martin in the PF when he was passed fit to play.

English was not selected as 1st ruck in any of those 2021 finals.

English played more minutes in the ruck, particularly against Brisbane.

We'd lost Josh Bruce a couple of weeks beforehand so the MC were trying to cover for Steph and him missing, and that's what they came up with.