Do we “Lobbify” English?

[Northernsoul74]

Tim English’s lack of competitiveness has long been a discussion point. After a poor 2024 he’s arguably started 2025 even worse. We look better with Darcy and Naughton in the ruck. Tim is costing us significant dollars. Could a positional change to defence like Lobb be the answer?

 

[Foxman98]

Trade him to west coast for a 4th

 

[BallaratBulldog]

Play him permanently on the Wing

 

[Testekill]

Maybe having him actually split time with Darcy between the forward line and the ruck? I'd rather not take Darcy out but his ruck craft is much better.

 

[weltschmerz]

Give him a buzz cut and dye it blue?

 

[weltschmerz]

Maybe having him actually split time with Darcy between the forward line and the ruck? I'd rather not take Darcy out but his ruck craft is much better.

Naughton also showed a bit there today.

 

[Dogsman16]

If lobbify means trade to another club then yep I support it.

Can’t keep persisting with this.

 

[cherrypie]

I think Tims biggest issue is just he’s never come across as ultra competitive. In Naughtons 5mins in the ruck, we saw him pushing in the contest, scrambling for the ball, making a smother etc. We just don’t see that intensity or hunger from English consistently, and that’s not going to change naturally.

He might be an ok forward but I don’t think it would be as successful as Lobb who was clearly just down on form and confidence before his switch. Best case scenario is we pick up another ruckman (someone similar style to Meek), then have Tim dominate the second ruck and drift around the forward line + sit back to intercept when needed.

 

[TiAn_]

The only other position he can play is forward and Darcy is already miles better, would be a waste to move Darcy out of there to accommodate English. If he’s not rucking, he’s out of the side.

Hopefully Tassie come calling and we can get a decent pick for him in a couple years.

 

[1961grandfinal]

When he started the ladies on our wing were in raptures for a young, blonde giant. Admiration from the besotted at marvel. Go forward 7 years and tonight a granny in front turned and said to me she would be stronger in a contest than Tim. Tim is under pressure and needs to start holding some marks.

 

[charcoalchicken]

Is English even a ruck? He never really was.. players like TDK next week will eat him for breakfast

 

[lachy]

Stop pissing around with him. Drop him for Lachie Smith who frankly can be no worse then make him put together a solid group of games in the VFL. Make him.earn his spot it is not an entitlement

On SM-S926B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Unorth]

Not the same after concussions and I don’t necessarily blame him on a personal level.

But if we can all wax lyrical about having Kennedy on half the size of the Macrae contract for roughly the same production we were getting…

Do we get to apply similar logic here?

It won’t happen with Bevo around but it should be a pretty easy call. Salary dump, move on, find a ruck on half the salary who will probably contribute equally to our wins.

No it doesn’t have to be an out of shape Crossley.

Yes that contract could have been Sweet - spilt milk now. But Sweet types are not difficult to find for most teams, you let someone else draft them, then poach them when they’re struggling to get a game behind established rucks. would also say that if you swapped out Tim for Sweet or a Sweet equivalent in 2024 our win/loss doesn’t change and we also don’t get belted by Meek in a final.

It’s a brave call to make after you sign a guy to a five year deal but it’s one we should make (we won’t).

 

[Butabi Brothers]

Considering we have lade as a coach, our no 1 ruck has no idea about how to actually ruck. His body positioning is terrible, he doesn’t body when he should and bodies when he shouldn’t.
His positioning around the ground is shite. Always under the ball.
And like some have said, his competitiveness is atrocious. For a bloke his size, there should be some want to take a body, crash a pack or just have a bit of c unt in him. But no. Softest bloke in our team. Shirks the issue any time it looks like he’s gonna get hit.
Would take sweet in a heartbeat over him. Pending picks or players, would trade for a loss if it meant getting an actual ruck. Rant over.


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[AFDogs]

**** I don’t know. He was definitely better tonight than last week but still infuriating. I can’t take my eyes off him whenever I watch us. I want him to do well so badly but he’s so timid and mentally must be struggling. He needs something and I’m not sure what it is

 

[Dogs Rule]

He just has no presence. He's tall, but he's just not intimidating whatsoever. I'm sure his opponents see him as a pushover. That's a massive problem.

Unless he just plays the Richo high leading forward role travelling up from CHF to the wing but he doesn't always hold his marks. He could do the Scotty Wynd role dropping back in the CHB hole, but again, you actually have to clunk your marks.

No idea.

 

[Cookie]

He has started to drop his head a bit in marking contests. Sure sign that he shouldn't be out there.

 

[SackofTaters]

Unfortunately it's become abundantly clear.

We need a Ruck. Tim English is not a Ruck. And I'm not sold on him on a Wing either, his shirking of contact is endemic now.

An undersized Naughton last night proved that someone who is not afraid of contact can win a contest in the Ruck.

We need a Nank style ruckman, our next gen team will have enough height to cover off defensively.

In the words of Tony Soprano - " He's Gottta Go ! "

 

[MrChristo]

I think you mean "lobotomise".

And, yes is the answer.

 

[Testekill]

He has started to drop his head a bit in marking contests. Sure sign that he shouldn't be out there.

He used to be good at being that interceptor behind the ball too, it looks like he has lost all confidence in marking contests.

 

[grassman75]

When he started the ladies on our wing were in raptures for a young, blonde giant. Admiration from the besotted at marvel. Go forward 7 years and tonight a granny in front turned and said to me she would be stronger in a contest than Tim. Tim is under pressure and needs to start holding some marks.

He was the second coming of Scott Wynd…..head knocks have taken what little confidence he had

 

[Dogs Rule]

Unfortunately it's become abundantly clear.

We need a Ruck. Tim English is not a Ruck. And I'm not sold on him on a Wing either, his shirking of contact is endemic now.

An undersized Naughton last night proved that someone who is not afraid of contact can win a contest in the Ruck.

We need a Nank style ruckman, our next gen team will have enough height to cover off defensively.

In the words of Tony Soprano - " He's Gottta Go ! "

The difference with Naughton in ruck was enormous. Collingwood knew they had to compete because Naughton was physically imposing himself in the contest. He was forcing himself in there and getting the footy out.

English sadly is like a baby giraffe in the ruck rather than the bull we need.

 

[Wocka]

He was the second coming of Scott Wynd…..head knocks have taken what little confidence he had

Sorry Grassmate, but this is wrong. The only thing he has in common with Wynd is blonde hair.

Re the thread question.

If he didn't have concussion issues, yes, Lobbster can punch him in the face.

We won't be the best we can be with this bloke as first ruck

 

[doggy_dog]

How good did we look for those few contests with Naughton at the centre bounce? Competed hard, chased and applied pressure when the ball hit the deck. That’s what we need from a ruck not run and carry around the ground. I’m so over it.

Been saying for years we should play English on the wing. Clear as day the man is not an effective ruckman

 

[Chalky White]

I got laughed out of this forum a couple of years ago for saying Sweet is a better ruckman than this marshmallow. My argument then as it is now, is that ruckmen need to be nasty and clumsy. Oppo players need to be edgy when one is around. Tim is a nice fellow who is scared. It can’t be hidden, he’s a mouse.
Big decisions need to be made on him.