Hype builds around Doggies’ young gun Ryley Sanders as key ruck Tim English gets back in action

Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen has huge raps on a draftee who has been tearing up the training track at the kennel, while a crucial big man is back in full training. JOSH BARNES has the latest.

Ryley Sanders of the West Bulldogs

All-Australian Tim English has stepped through some light contact as defender Alex Keath continued his slow build back from a knee injury during a sweltering Western Bulldogs training session.

English had been dealing with migraine symptoms and was held out of contact drills in the past six weeks but took part in some light tackling and bumping drills during a light session on Wednesday.

The ruck was part of the full session and also worked through some stoppage drills, jumping into a bag as ruck.

Youngster Sam Darcy continued to train as a forward-ruck and has been deployed in that part of the ground instead of defence in recent weeks.

Darcy has been touted as a big improver this summer but faces a tough test breaking into the round 1 side, with Rory Lobb, Aaron Naughton and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan all fit and enjoying strong summers as tall forwards.

Ugle-Hagan laid a couple of crunching tackles in a handball drill.

Ryley Sanders of the West Bulldogs at training this week. Picture: Supplied

MIDFIELD MINUTES

The Dogs split into forwards, midfielders and backs for a 20 minute drill during the middle of the session.

Caleb Daniel found plenty of the ball around stoppages and draftee Ryley Sanders was strong again in the clinches.

North Smith medallist Johannisen put Sanders in illustrious company with an early comparison and the No. 6 pick appears all but locked in for a round 1 debut.

“There has been a lot of hype around Ryley Sanders but it is very merited,” Johannisen told RSN this week.

“The way he has been training has been unbelievable. Personally he sort of reminds me of a young Libba (Tom Liberatore), he is so clean in stoppages but then also he has the time and poise of (Scott) Pendlebury.

“He has been extremely exciting to watch and Dogs fans will be keen to watch him this season.”

Skipper Marcus Bontempelli appears completely over the ankle injury that delayed his pre-season and took part in the full session.

Ex-Demon James Harmes slotted in to stoppage work seamlessly before leaving drills early to complete some running.

Tim English has been re-integrated into training after missing sessions with migraines. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images.

ON THE IMPROVE

Veteran backman Keath only jogged slow laps to begin training before hitting the gym as he works through knee soreness.

The former Crow is still expected to be in the frame for pre-season matches despite his slow summer.

Riley Garcia was also running laps after his off-season shoulder reconstruction.

Summer signing Lachie Bramble (shoulder) took part in most of the session and trained with the defensive group at one stage.

Dasher Jason Johannisen also trained in defence and appears locked into half-back for now.

The only major injury on the list at Footscray currently is Bailey Smith, with the Dogs still pondering whether to move him to the inactive list.

Making Smith inactive would open a spot for another summer signing but with the clock ticking towards the February 19 deadline, it is unlikely the Dogs will shift him.

Coach Luke Beveridge was absent for training today and will be again on Friday after heading north to Queensland early ahead of next week’s camp on the Sunshine Coast.

Originally published as Hype builds around Doggies’ young gun Ryley Sanders as key ruck Tim English gets back in action