Trade talk: Dogs ruck to stay put despite coach conflict

Western Bulldogs’ ruckman Tim English has been arguably the side’s most important player in 2026.

However, as revealed by Jordan Lewis, the former All-Australian could be on the move as early as next season.

Under contract until 2029, the 28-year-old has been a stalwart in the Dogs’ unit since 2019, playing 163 games with the club since being selected in the first round of the 2016 draft.

As Lewis explained on Fox Footy, interest has circled around English as clubs continue to question his commitment to the club.

“The story to follow now is, will Tim English be there next year?” Lewis told Fox Footy’s On the Couch.

“I think there’s strong word around that the questions are being asked at other clubs. I think he is gettable.

“If would surprise me if he is there next year. I’m not set on one particular team, but I know the question is being asked.”

Despite the ongoing rumours, SEN’s Sam Edmund believes that while he and coach Luke Beveridge have not always been aligned, his tenure at the club has never been in doubt.

“Contracted until 2029, and the Dogs have obviously fielded a lot of calls on this today and into last night,” Edmund told SEN Afternoons.

“He will be staying at the Western Bulldogs.

“Tim English and Luke Beveridge have had a moment or two this year where they haven’t exactly seen eye-to-eye, but that is history now.

“They are completely fine and it was never to a level where the player would entertain a trade because of that. They probably weren’t totally aligned. They are now, and that’s all in the past.

“What has happened is there were some contingency calls made given the contract uncertainty of Tim’s wife, Rudi Ellis, from a Super Netball point of view.

“Now that that has been sorted with the Melbourne Vixens, to borrow a phrase, I would be really surprised if Tim English was anywhere else but the Western Bulldogs for next year, the year after, and quite possibly, the year after that.

“Tim English will be there. How many times have we discussed win/loss record at the Dogs when Tim is in that team compared to when he is not?

“They need another Tim English! They can’t afford to be losing him. He is one of the most important players to his team in the competition.”