Tim English and the ruck dilemma

[GVGjr]

He's had a steady and a consistent season.
He's proving to be a factor up forward as well.

[Aidan7557]

He's had a steady and a consistent season.
He's proving to be a factor up forward as well.

Such a barometer. Can't remember a game we lost when he played really well but when he has a shocker we seem to struggle.

[macca]

Tim had a superb game on thursday and toweld up briggs.

One thing I did notice that he got a heap of free kicks against Briggs. Was it something he did differently ? Or Briggs is just a snipper who likes to hold and block ?

[Bornadog]

Tim had a superb game on thursday and toweld up briggs.

One thing I did notice that he got a heap of free kicks against Briggs. Was it something he did differently ? Or Briggs is just a snipper who likes to hold and block ?

Yes.

[Axe Man]

Tim had a superb game on thursday and toweld up briggs.

One thing I did notice that he got a heap of free kicks against Briggs. Was it something he did differently ? Or Briggs is just a snipper who likes to hold and block ?

He's had the better of the umpiring all season with 42 frees for and 24 against. Opposition rucks are often attempting to block his leap. Obviously not all would be in ruck contests but I'm guessing the majority are.

[doggies ftw]

Tim had a superb game on thursday and toweld up briggs.

One thing I did notice that he got a heap of free kicks against Briggs. Was it something he did differently ? Or Briggs is just a snipper who likes to hold and block ?

I noticed earlier in the year he was getting more frees, I think it’s because this year he’s been way more proactive in the ruck contest. Been one of my biggest gripes of his over the years that he never really tried to use his athleticism to take front position or battle to get in position to use his height, he just seemed keen to grappple and inevitably lose out to the bigger guys. This year he’s been much much better at that and I think it’s spooking the oppo big men a little bit and they’re resorting to illegal blocks & scrags to stop him.

Has had a great year

[macca]

The reason I noticed the frees For with English, is he got caught out a few times with Grundy and Meek in those games. Maybe its biased umpring? Maybe against the bigger stronger ruckman he can't get front position or hold his position ????

But thanks for highlighting those stats and Insights Axeman/doggies_ftw.

[comrade]

I think this has been his best year ever in terms of ruck work. I really liked how he worked Briggs over and drove him to deeper waters inside 50. He’ll need to bring his A game this week.

[Bornadog]

I think this has been his best year ever in terms of ruck work. I really liked how he worked Briggs over and drove him to deeper waters inside 50. He’ll need to bring his A game this week.

Gawn still the best ruck in the AFL for mine.

[Garbs_7]

Tim has been really really good this season since a slowish start over the first month. Had some dominant games and absolutely ran Briggs ragged around the ground and beat him up in the air marking the footy.

I'm very happy he's our ruck

[Rusty12]

6th in the pound4pound ratings, and leading the 3rd level.
I think that is fair and reflective of his season.
Bont and Darcy are coming; however, any which way you cook it, he is a top 10 player for us this year.

[Mofra]

6th in the pound4pound ratings, and leading the 3rd level.
I think that is fair and reflective of his season.
Bont and Darcy are coming; however, any which way you cook it, he is a top 10 player for us this year.

Whenever he wins his position we win the game.

He is at his best running off his opponent and getting involved in possession chains. Running forward last week he absolutely took Briggs to the cleaners.

[my plums]

Huge game for The Big Chill on Sunday. He seems to have put a few demons to bed this year. Hopefully he can do so on the weekend against Big Maxy and the Melbourne Demons....

[angelopetraglia]

Agree. Massive game for Time. We need him at his best.

[The Adelaide Connection]

Not on Tim, but I love that we are now leaving Darcy forward for longer and instead pulling Lobb into the ruck.

I bet every opposition team loved when Darcy was out of the forward line.