English joins Western Bulldogs excited by future

SOUTH Fremantle ruckman Tim English couldn’t be happier to have landed with the AFL premiers following last Friday’s draft and he has no doubt that the Western Bulldogs could end up being a perfect fit for what he provides.

This time 12 months ago, English had not played colts football and an AFL career in 2017 was a fair way away. He had played some encouraging football at Christ Church Grammar but that was as far as his exploits went.

But he was not only completing a growth spurt that now sees him stand 203cm but he kept his mobility, co-ordination and the rare ability for a player his size to get around the ground and play virtually as an extra midfielder who just happens to be supremely tall.

He turned up for South Fremantle colts pre-season training this time last year and immediately it became obvious he had a huge future ahead of him. He then played standout football early in the colts season for the Bulldogs and ended up picked to play in the WA State 18s.

An encouraging National 18s Championships saw his stocks rise further before returning to South Fremantle where he finished the season playing reserves football with the Bulldogs and even making his league debut in Round 23 against Perth at Lathlain Park.

By the end of the season, English loomed as a top pick in last Friday’s NAB AFL Draft and that eventuated with him selected at No. 19 by the Western Bulldogs.

Joining the reigning premiers might appear daunting for some, but English not only is excited to be heading to Whitten Oval he is confident that the game plan of coach Luke Beveridge suits him perfectly.

And with the Bulldogs having a ruck coach in Steven King, a premiership player and former captain at Geelong, English knows he will be in safe hands.

“He (Beveridge) likes to have a mobile ruckman and I think he’s openly said that. It’s a huge honour to be able to play under him and to play with that game style if I get the chance,” English said.

“The list management has had the faith in me to play that role so I’m really looking forward to it. I’m really looking forward to working under him (King) as well. He was a very successful ruckman so I’m really looking forward to that.”

Despite all the talk and hype going into the National Draft that he would be picked up, English never quite allowed himself to believe it until he actually heard his name called with him in Sydney at the event.

He is now in Melbourne and in the middle of his first week with the Bulldogs and is already enjoying his time at the club, and new living arrangements.

“I was a bit shocked when my name was called out. Obviously it’s really exciting and there is such a big build up so I was pretty nervous and didn’t sleep too much the night before. But once your name is called out it’s a huge relief and the excitement and anticipation takes over,” he said.

“Everyone has been really welcoming and I’ve got to meet a lot of the premiership players, which is exciting and I’ve really enjoyed it so far. I’m living with Fergus (Greene) and Josh Dunkley at the moment. That will be for the first couple of weeks and then I’ll move in with a host family.”

Given English moved away from his family in Brookton-Pingelly to attend Christ Church Grammar and remained living in Perth this year after graduating from school in 2015, he also feels that living in Melbourne will come easily to him.

Putting on weight is his first immediate focus though.

“I actually went to boarding school for six years and lived away from home with my brother this year so I should be able to make the move to Melbourne relatively well,” he said.

“Obviously putting weight on is a real need for me because I’m pretty skinny at the moment so hopefully I can get into the gym and build my strength up. But in saying that I’ll just try to work on my craft and see what my coaches think.”

The Bulldogs won the hearts and minds of Australia’s sporting community by winning the 2016 premiership to end a drought stretching back to 1954. Even before being drafted, English had already fallen in love with their story.

“I watched the grand final twice in the end so obviously I really enjoyed watching their story through the finals,” English said.

“They seemed to play significantly better throughout that finals series and it’s a really good story.”