Paul Hasleby believes Bailey Williams has the capability to be West Coast’s long-term ruckman, urging the Eagles against a pursuit of Tim English.
As Fremantle great Hasleby notes, it’s long been speculated West Coast could entice English back to Western Australia when the star Western Bulldog hits free agency.
But Williams’ performance on the weekend and across the 2023 season throws a spanner in the works.
The 23-year-old gathered 23 disposals, 24 hitouts, six clearances and four inside 50s against a ruck pairing of Tristan Xerri and Todd Goldstein as West Coast broke a 16-game winless streak.
It was an effort Hasleby rates highly.
“Back in big Bailey, that’s my take from this,” he began on SEN WA’s The Run Home.
“Bailey Williams, we’re watching him all year to see if he can be the no.1 (ruckman).
“He got the opportunity on the back of the injury to Nic Naitanui and I didn’t think he could step up and fill this role, but right now it’s got massive ramifications for where they go in regards to their ruck stocks in the future.
“With the ultimate ruck test, he passed with flying colours. He had Goldstein and Xerri up against him… it’s his work around the ground, his spread was really good, his clearance work, he can actually take it from the contest, run out the front and kick it inside the forward 50.”
Alongside Naitanui, Callum Jamieson and Williams are the only recognised ruckmen on West Coast’s list.
But pointing to what Fremantle has done in tying up plenty of its salary cap in rucks Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy, Hasleby warned the Eagles on targeting English.
“For me now, there’s no need for Tim English. It’s been long thought that the West Coast Eagles would get Tim English next year through free agency... they wouldn’t have to pay anything for him but it would cost them $800,000-$1,000,000 because he’s going to be the All-Australian ruck,” he explained.
“For me right now, there’s no point having two ruckmen. You don’t want to be in the scenario Fremantle finds themselves in, so much invested in two.
“Williams is not as good as English and I don’t think he ever will be, but he's not too far behind.
“List management is about maximising what you’ve got but then complement that with other people around him.
“Rather than going and getting English, spend that money on a Chad Warner, a Logan McDonald or an Aaron Naughton.
“For me, Williams is showing enough as a ruckman.”
Williams, who was drafted out of Victoria, has 45 games of AFL experience since joining the Eagles in the 2018 draft.
He’s averaging career highs in disposals, hitouts, tackles, clearances and inside 50s in 2023.