Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has shrugged off injury concerns around Tim English, conceding the veteran ruck was simply outmuscled by Sydney's Brodie Grundy.
Limited by a sore back, All-Australian ruck English was no match against Grundy in the Bulldogs' 35-point loss to the flag fancies at the SCG.
English was shifted to full-back after starting in the centre square, with Rory Lobb bearing the brunt against the Swans' big man.
"He's not carrying anything."
— AFL (@AFL) July 3, 2026
Luke Beveridge on Tim English's performance against the Swans.#AFLSwansDogs pic.twitter.com/AZic33nkNs
Grundy finished with 60 hitouts to Lobb's 21, while English managed just eight.
English has already missed four matches this year, suffering an MCL injury in April before missing game time through concussion.
But Beveridge said there wasn't anything deeper to English's health besides soreness.
"He's not carrying anything. He obviously was a bit stiff in the back over the break," Beveridge said of English.
"Ultimately, some of the ruckmen in the competition, and Brodie is one of them, who's just a huge handful for any ruckman.
"I just think our guys just found Brodie Grundy too strong, like he just dominated.
"If you go and have a look at his hit-out statistics, you'll need four hands to count it - we'd need about 14 hands to count them on."
The Western Bulldogs remain outside the top-six in eighth (9-7) after falling short in a finals litmus test against second-placed Sydney (13-3).
Injuries to defenders Connor Budarick (ankle syndesmosis) and Nick Coffield (concussion) only further soured the SCG loss, with the club uncertain of return timelines.
Budarick was forced out of the game in the second quarter, while a diving Coffield was hit in the back of the head by Swans midfielder Chad Warner's knee.
Still, Beveridge dismissed suggestions the Bulldogs wouldn't be able to stand up in the post-season.
"It's definitely not drifting away from us ... we're right in the mix," Beveridge said.
"We're going to need to improve a hell of a lot to be a threat at the end of the year. We know that, but I'm a great believer that we've got it in us.
"I don't think we're imposters ... I feel like we can come home hard."
