SuperCoach 2020: Why young Bulldog Tim English is set for a breakout season
Don’t want to pay for Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn? There’s one young Bulldog who may save you money without sacrificing the points. Mr. SuperCoach explains why he plans on starting Tim English in 2020
Supercoach
Don't miss out on the headlines from Supercoach. Followed categories will be added to My News.
You don’t have to be a KFC SuperCoach expert to know Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn should probably be your starting ruck tandem for 2020.
The pair have been clear standouts over the past two seasons and barring serious injury, are likely to follow suit again this year.
But savvy coaches seeking an edge will be looking to save money in the ruck department – without sacrificing too many points each week.
LISTEN TO MR. SUPERCOACH ON THE PHANTOM’S LAIR PODCAST BELOW
Enter rising Bulldogs big man Tim English.
“Tim who?” I can hear you asking incredulously. Well, let’s look at the arguments for slotting $448,000 English into the no. 2 ruck spot, giving you an extra $250,000 instead of $697,000 Gawn.
CASE FOR
It was a breakout season of sorts for English in 2019, who played 12 more games than in 2018 and boosted his SC average from 63 to 82 as he clearly took the number one ruck mantle in his third season at the kennel.
Rucks tend to blossom in their third or fourth year: Kangaroos star Todd Goldstein’s average went from 65 to 113 a game over that period, Gawn’s jumped from 63 to 102, while Grundy improved his average from 63 to 90 in his third year.
The Saints’ Rowan Marshall emerged in 2019 - his third season - averaging 110 in 20 matches, which was a jump of almost 50 points a game on his 2018 efforts.
Now it’s unlikely English, 22, will enjoy a similar rise but it’s quite possible he could boost his scoring into the 100-110 range.
After a slow start last year in which he scored 61, 63, 54 and 70 in the first four rounds, English averaged 97.5 over his last month as the Bulldogs stormed into the finals.
The young West Australian, who’s been added to the Bulldogs leadership group this year, has been likened to Grundy for his athleticism and has all the tools to become an imposing around the ground ruckman in a team likely to challenge for the top four.
CASE AGAINST
To this stage of his career, English doesn’t get enough of the ball, averaging just 13 disposals last season.
That may not change any time soon with the Bulldogs’ bevy of ballwinners in the midfield and down back sharing the footy amongst themselves.
English’s record against the top ruckman is also a concern: he failed to register more than 10 hitouts in three of four clashes against Grundy, Gawn or Goldstein last year. But that could obviously change this season as he continues to add bulk to his 205cm frame.
OTHER OPTIONS TO CONSIDER
If you’re not going Grundy and Gawn, there’s little value to be had selecting one of the players slightly cheaper in the $500,000 - $600,000 bracket.
Looking in the $400,000s, the other obvious options I believe are West Coast’s Nic Naitanui at $457,800 and Fremantle’s Sean Darcy $402,800, while below that, former Crow-turned-Giant Sam Jacobs at $348,400 is worthy of consideration purely for his price.
MORE SUPERCOACH ADVICE
The premium alternatives to Grundy and Gawn
Four must-have starters to build your team around
Rookie Bible: All the early cheapies
Top 50 SuperCoach Draft rankings
The midfield stars to consider
Whitfield, Dusty and then who? The premium forwards to consider
SUMMING UP
There’s inherent risk when trying to pick which new player will emerge as the next elite SuperCoach star, even moreso when in the process, you’re overlooking a consistent 130-point scorer in Gawn.
But if you can use the extra $250,000 wisely, there are rewards to be had with selecting English, whose upside is significant.
It’s still only January of course but at this early stage, I’ve earmarked the Bulldog’s 2016 first round pick as my second ruck and in turn, will strengthen my midfield and defence lines.
Originally published as SuperCoach 2020: Why young Bulldog Tim English is set for a breakout season