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Full Noise by SN
Important update on 1476AMThe “ignorant” decision decimating the Bulldogs' season
Jaiden Sciberras • April 28th, 2026 5:37 pm
The Western Bulldogs opted against signing an experienced backup ruckman over the off-season, and the club has paid the ultimate price.
Since sole ruckman Tim English went down with a knee concern against Essendon in Round 4, the Dogs are yet to win a game, 0-3 with a combined losing margin of 181 points.
Comfortably the biggest swing of form in the AFL this season, English’s absence has played a significant role in the Bulldogs’ slip.
In Round 7’s loss to the Swans, the Bulldogs managed just three hitouts to advantage for the game, tallying just 14 total since English’s departure and slipping to an average of 34 clearances a game across that period.
English also averaged four intercepts per game and played an important role in halting transition through his intercept marking – a change in tactical setup significantly aiding the Dogs’ back six.
In his absence, the Dogs rank in the bottom five for halting defensive transitions leading to scores, transitions from back 50 to forward 50 and possession chains leading to scores.
With the club’s clear struggles in mind, Sam Edmund believes that failing to address the lack of backup may have been a massive oversight, and the club must begin talks around the competition to secure a number two.
“The Western Bulldogs, start talking to the competition around a backup ruck for Tim English,” Edmund told SEN Sportsday.
“What a hole he has left on that list when he is not available.
“Reilly O’Brien is contracted, but there’s a number of guys who aren’t. Darcy Fort could come for nothing, Kieran Briggs is on the way out at GWS and is out of contract as well.”
Gerard Healy added: “We saw who GWS’ new ruckman is going to be (on the weekend) – Nick Madden.”
Edmund: “Ned Moyle is under contract at the Gold Coast as well, but how long Ned Moyle will stay without necessarily playing is an open-ended question.”
Healy: “They need to keep an open mind, because Lachie McAndrew – the Swans would have to have a good look at how they let him go.
“They pinched him out of rugby union, he didn’t know how to play, and he didn’t know how to kick. He loved tackling, which is unusual for a big ruckman that size, and he’s built his game around the negative elements of the game.
“He’s becoming a pretty darn good ruckman, and they’ve pinched him for about $1.50.”
Ken Hinkley: “Sydney has got Hayden McLean and Peter Ladhams also still playing.
“They’ve got two backup ruckmen, and they’ve got one of the absolute best in Brodie Grundy in the side as well.
“They are going okay for their rucks. I find it really challenging that the Dogs have failed to address the ruck support in the off-season. I had this conversation last week, it’s a really challenging one for me.
“That’s sort of been a little bit ignorant. We’ve got a ruck rule change, you’ve got a preseason opportunity, I don’t know whether they had a pick in the preseason draft or not, but if they did, they should have been picking a mature aged ruckman to back up (English).
“It’s easy in hindsight, I get it, but to have Tim English on his own, one out, and to be this decimated by his absence is probably a massive miss.”
Healy: “That’s why the Demons went and got the big Moose (Max Heath) out of St Kilda, who has been pretty impressive.”
Edmund: “It’s been stark for the Dogs. Louis Emmett and Lachlan Smith just shouldn’t be playing – we’re not necessarily blaming them; they are just not ready to play at this stage.
“They have been horribly exposed in and around the ball in the absence of English, who might be back this weekend.”
The club has looked into backup ruckmen in past drafts, securing Lachlan Smith with the 47th pick in 2023 and Louis Emmett with the 27th pick in 2025, however, neither have set the world alight in English’s absence.
Southport's star ruckman Brayden Crossley trialled with the club for an SSP spot over pre-season, with the club instead offering the final list spot to forward Will Lewis.
English remains a test to return this weekend as the Dogs host Fremantle on Friday night.
