Player Watch Welcome to Hawthorn: Pick 23, Sam Butler

[PenAndPaper]

This is no criticism of Kosi at all but would of love to see him hand off to Butler instead of kicking that goal. Would of been nice reward for his efforts.

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tbf I don't really think he expected Butler to keep running for a handball receive, I certainly didn't until I saw the replay.

 

[Braidz]

This is no criticism of Kosi at all but would of love to see him hand off to Butler instead of kicking that goal. Would of been nice reward for his efforts.

On SM-S906E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Kosi needed a few to get his confidence back up.

 

[Topiary]

Keep him in! The type of player that once he has a couple of career best games, I don't think he'll look back.

Very,very happy for that to occur. If he continues to adjust his ball to foot dynamics as well as his instinctive ability to kick scores we will have a player entitled to be judged as capable of the small forward that will win finals. Pretty simple really.

 

[kazzooka]

This is no criticism of Kosi at all but would of love to see him hand off to Butler instead of kicking that goal. Would of been nice reward for his efforts.

On SM-S906E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Sometimes when you are in that situation you know what you will do before getting it. Kosi saw the play unfolding and just spaced out knowing his man would leave him to pressure butler so he was planning all along to receive and kick so did that immediately without noticing butler run on.

Good teams would block butler after the handball so that he can't run back in.

Also one of my pet hates is too much passing inside forward 50. It takes 1 good kick to score a goal. Sometimes we will handball 3 times, kick to contests or tight spots trying to find the perfect option which ends up needing 3 good handballs and receives, a brilliant nearly impossible kick, a mark and then the goal.

If you can hand pass or kick you might as well kick a goal.

 

[CHUBBSS]

God I’ve missed having two pressure forwards in the team, such a good pick, a lot stronger then he appears to

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

God I’ve missed having two pressure forwards in the team, such a good pick, a lot stronger then he appears to

He has got a tough edge that is required in role he plays. He is like granite in and so when he hits, you know they feel it.

 

[theiaofseed]

I haven't been as excited about Butler as most people but he's putting together a solid period.

16th in the league for average Goal Assist and 10th for tackles inside 50. Solid numbers for a small forward 14 games into his career.

 

[The Spirit of Cricket]

like Brockman, he's having fewer and fewer games where he has minimal impact. As a small fwd sometimes you are going to have those really quiet days.

But look at his games last year – only 2 with over 10 touches, only 1 with more than 2 tackles and only 1 game with over 59 fantasy points (he averaged 36)

This season, apart from the Sydney game, he's had over 10 touches every game he's played. Had an impressive 6 tackle game. Has doubled his average for marks per game. And his fantasy scores are way up (not a great metric but can be decent measurement of an AFL "box score", if you will). Oh and he's kicked a goal every game since his return to the side. Very promising signs of improvement.

If both Brockman and Butler can average 12-15 touches, 2-3 tackles and a goal a game from here till the end of the year that would do wonders for our team going forward. That's an excellent statistical baseline for them to launch into becoming top-tier small fwds in the coming seasons

 

[SSSSSS]

Got reward for effort yesterday. Pressured a turn over and kicked an opportunistic goal.

Just needs to ramp it up.

 

[Brishawk]

A few weeks I was begging for the inclusion of a small forward to pressure. Butler was not my first choice on account of his lack of proactivity. But he is still effective at pressuring the opposition, which is great to see. Still very much an opportunist as a forward and a pressure player. He needs to learn how to use his athletic traits better.

Anticipate the play and put the hammer down sooner will mean he can nail more opponents in tackles. Read the play and turn his man around upfield so he can get ball going towards goal rather than just coming at the ball carrier. Is good overhead and it’s something he could exploit.

Overall, his form is solid but I think he has another level to go to as a player. He will be a tough match up if he works it out.

 

[MrPremiership]

Has mongrel which i like in a small foward

 

[TheFourPillars]

A few weeks I was begging for the inclusion of a small forward to pressure. Butler was not my first choice on account of his lack of proactivity. But he is still effective at pressuring the opposition, which is great to see. Still very much an opportunist as a forward and a pressure player. He needs to learn how to use his athletic traits better.

Anticipate the play and put the hammer down sooner will mean he can nail more opponents in tackles. Read the play and turn his man around upfield so he can get ball going towards goal rather than just coming at the ball carrier. Is good overhead and it’s something he could exploit.

Overall, his form is solid but I think he has another level to go to as a player. He will be a tough match up if he works it out.

He needs to know when to be dangerous that is his biggest weakness. He could use his speed a lot earlier in being able to score than he does at present. He will learn.

 

[SSSSSS]

He needs to know when to be dangerous that is his biggest weakness. He could use his speed a lot earlier in being able to score than he does at present. He will learn.

Needs to watch some Poppy footage.

Poppy's secret was that he didn't need to know when to use his speed. He had his foot on the accelerator the entire time.

Butler does two things that I like in a small pressure forward. Tackles hard and keeps his feet. If you can keep your feet you will stay in the contest and that's when the opportunities will come.

 

[TheFourPillars]

Needs to watch some Poppy footage.

Poppy's secret was that he didn't need to know when to use his speed. He had his foot on the accelerator the entire time.

Butler does two things that I like in a small pressure forward. Tackles hard and keeps his feet. If you can keep your feet you will stay in the contest and that's when the opportunities will come.

There is also the timing of your run. Breust is a perfect example. He knows when to take off to get dangerous

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Butler is quick, he just hasn't shown it at any level for some reason. Too often atleast. It's quite frustrating but hopefully he can continue to work on it, because once he does he'll be a star. Because he's good around goals, he's a smart player with ball in hand and makes good decisions, and he's a good kick, on his non preferred also. As mentioned, keeps his feet and his tackling sticks, great attributes.

 

[daniel23]

Butler is quick, he just hasn't shown it at any level for some reason. Too often atleast. It's quite frustrating but hopefully he can continue to work on it, because once he does he'll be a star. Because he's good around goals, he's a smart player with ball in hand and makes good decisions, and he's a good kick, on his non preferred also. As mentioned, keeps his feet and his tackling sticks, great attributes.

He is a bit like Maginness he tests quick but it doesn't seem to translate in his play.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

He is a bit like Maginness he tests quick but it doesn't seem to translate in his play.

Think it’ll come for butler.

I’ve seen Maginness do it, more so VFL level as he doesn’t get it enough at AFL level.

Butler will show it because it’s more naturally gifted but hope it is soon.

 

[naysayer]

Butler is quick, he just hasn't shown it at any level for some reason. Too often atleast. It's quite frustrating but hopefully he can continue to work on it, because once he does he'll be a star. Because he's good around goals, he's a smart player with ball in hand and makes good decisions, and he's a good kick, on his non preferred also. As mentioned, keeps his feet and his tackling sticks, great attributes.

A number of players that he's run down this season would disagree with you! I think he's doing a lot right, just needs to demand the ball more so he can show off his weapons. That will come.

 

[SJT76]

Butler seems to struggle to think and run flat out at the same time. He takes a second to assess options before putting the foot down, and also slows up to dispose.

Once he gets better at making snap decisions, or realises he can walk and chew, he’ll show his pace

 

[Dewyyyyy]

A number of players that he's run down this season would disagree with you! I think he's doing a lot right, just needs to demand the ball more so he can show off his weapons. That will come.

Yeah, he has but just not nearly as much as he should. Needs to back himself.

 

[naysayer]

Shades of Cyril with that finish today. That was pretty special, and he's really starting to look at home

 

[DEECEE]

He and Brocky will embarrass some teams in the next few years

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[SSSSSS]

Hope you start seeing the light soon Tops

Has kicked a goal in every full game so far.

 

[cryptor]

Unlucky not to have 3 goals today. Needs to work on getting himself more opportunities inside 50. He makes the most of them.

 

[matey]

Once he gets confidence to take the game on he will be awesome