With Dogs and English in contract limbo, which side will win out?

A 10-week purple patch can make you filthy rich, Bulldog Tim English is definitely going to get a big deal, but exactly how big? The second half of 2024 could shape his career.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 05: Tim English of the Bulldogs celebrates kicking a goal during the round eight AFL match between Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn Hawks at Marvel Stadium, on May 05, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Ten weeks can change the course of an AFL player’s career.

If you’re in a free agency year, a 10-week purple patch can make you filthy rich.

For Ben McKay, it came in 2023, when he turned in a back-half of the season that finally made use of his natural intercepting gifts.

Essendon showed him the money when, at the midpoint of the season, the North Melbourne defender might have wondered if his suitors were drifting away.

At Whitten Oval right now, Tim English badly needs those big 10 weeks. He will get paid well anyway as an elite ruckman, but the really big dollars depend on A-grade form and a batch of rival suitors. Yet, as his contract stalemate drags on, the 2023 All-Australian ruckman isn’t even in the conversation for the 2024 honours.

English is keen for a six or seven-year deal at over $1 million a year, which is what he deserves on his absolute best form. But right now that money and tenure isn’t forthcoming, with the Dogs having put in an offer believed to be five seasons yet not the truly long-term deal English wants. And it seems neither party is yet ready to stand down.

Tim English needs a big ten weeks. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

At the Lions, Hugh McCluggage finally got the seventh season he wanted – if not the $1m-per-year salary.

But with West Coast’s interest in English cooling, it’s hard to find a suitor that is keen on him – even if some Victoria-based clubs are monitoring his availability.

As Fox Footy’s riveting look behind the curtain of the first All Australian selection meeting showed, that group believes the best three rucks of the season are Max Gawn, Brodie Grundy and Jarrod Witts. Rowan Marshall isn’t far behind. Tristan Xerri’s season has been a revelation. For sheer impact, if not consistency, throw in Hawthorn’s Lloyd Meek and Fremantle’s Luke Jackson, with Toby Nankervis (Richmond) excellent and Tom De Koning (Carlton) coming with a bullet.

English is ranked the ninth-best ruckman in the league, with TDK at 10.

Last week Oscar McInerney beat English soundly, providing silver service as the Lions won the clearances 50-32.

This week’s clash against Fremantle and the Jackson-Sean Darcy ruck combo shapes as the ultimate danger game for the Bulldog.

English’s stats are still fine – 17 touches a game, 5.8 marks – but he has kicked one goal in five weeks. He doesn’t have a coaches’ vote since round 6 (a single vote against St Kilda) with only two other voting games (two against the Eagles in round 3 and three against the Suns in round 2).

The Dogs ruckman has fallen off his 2023 All-Australian form. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

He doesn’t have huge clearance numbers like Grundy, or huge possession numbers like Marshall. He isn’t a goal-kicker like Jackson, he doesn’t have sneaky-good tap work like Ivan Soldo or Meek. He doesn’t have Xerri’s physicality.

In short, he is lacking impact. He has one centre-square clearance in each of the last eight weeks; and is below average for clearances and contested possessions.

Time to get cracking against the Dockers, and against one of the best ruck duos in the AFL – even if Jackson and Darcy haven’t found a way to dominate rivals like they should.

It could be the difference between a five and seven-year contract, and between $1 million a year and $1.3 million.

English wants to stay at the Dogs, and the Dogs want him. It’s 10 weeks to get filthy rich, and put the Bulldogs into finals contention in the process.

Originally published as With Dogs and English in contract limbo, which side will win out?