Western Bulldogs ruckman Tim English has been ruled out of a potential Wildcard Round match, and is in doubt to return this season after he suffered a knee injury last week to North Melbourne.
English and the Bulldogs were hopeful of a potential return in the finals, but coach Luke Beveridge dashed any hope of that possibility.
“No, it's going to be longer term than that. He'll be further down the track,” Beveridge said.
The Whitten Oval club has been smashed by injury throughout the year, headed by unicorn Sam Darcy going down with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury earlier in the season.
The Bulldogs, once announcing Lachlan Carmichael as a debutant for Sunday's clash against Carlton at Marvel Stadium, will have used 39 players in 2026. It would've been 40 if Riley Garcia, who was named against Gold Coast last month, hadn't suffered a season-ending hamstring injury.
But Beveridge insists the club has "earned" its spot in the Wildcard Round slots amid the challenging season.
“We'll worry about (wildcard round) when we get there, but we've still earnt it, haven't we? So we'd rather be in there than be one of the eight who don't make it,” Beveridge said.
“As I just said to the players, to be able to initiate and continue in the pursuit of improvement is what the next two weeks are about – preparation for that final.
“We're searching for more time with the ball in our hands, searching for an offensive game that will equip us to challenge if we do make the finals series, which has happened.”
All-Australian defender Bailey Dale is pushing to return next week against Melbourne.
More to come.
