Player Watch Welcome to Hawthorn: Pick 23, Sam Butler

[rei154]

Cheeky chance of a rising star nom by the seasons end imo

 

[tommyk72]

Gave away two goals he could have kicked by not backing himself. It’ll come.

 

[The German Hunter]

The kid is class. Although I have a feeling he may take the mantle of being traded every year off Punky when he retires!

 

[Winged Fang]

Fantastic game for the role he plays, particularly to back himself and kick that beauty! Shows an instinct that we know is there and will bloom in time.

Playing devils advocate however, I am frustrated at times by his taking things for granted. Trying to pick it up one handed, anticipating a bounce of the ball that doesn’t eventuate, running off an opponent only for that player to end up with the pill. He’s learning, and these plays will come off one day, but I feel like he needs to play %’s a bit more at this stage of his career. But kudos - he is improving his involvement in games.

 

[Topiary]

Hope you start seeing the light soon Tops

Has kicked a goal in every full game so far.

As I said, very happy to be wrong, I know I am hard task master, he has quicker skills, I wish he would show them. I fear he is going to be frustrating, but Butts could be a very good player if he was consistent like Seamus Mitchell, make mistakes, just do, like the great man once said. VG small fwds are instinctive.

I know many will say he is, I too was spoilt by having Cyril, Bruest and Poppy, but you do need xfactor amongst your small fwds if you are to win silverware. Just hope Butts has some of that. Not sure. As I said, very happy for him to prove me wrong.

 

[SSSSSS]

As I said, very happy to be wrong, I know I am hard task master, he has quicker skills, I wish he would show them. I fear he is going to be frustrating, but Butts could be a very good player if he was consistent like Seamus Mitchell, make mistakes, just do, like the great man once said. VG small fwds are instinctive.

I know many will say he is, I too was spoilt by having Cyril, Bruest and Poppy, but you do need xfactor amongst your small fwds if you are to win silverware. Just hope Butts has some of that. Not sure. As I said, very happy for him to prove me wrong.

Has all the tools just needs to start piecing it together.

I didn't think he had that dribble kick in his locker so glad to see him bring it out. He didn't look too surprised when he celebrated.

 

[Bugs1977]

Has all the tools just needs to start piecing it together.

I didn't think he had that dribble kick in his locker so glad to see him bring it out. He didn't look too surprised when he celebrated.

The kid has that campaigner look about him and I'd love to start seeing him get under the oppo's skin more. I'd love for him to end up being our own version of Papley.

 

[Colloquy]

I feel his going to be the Breust replacement in the Forward line I hope he works really hard and follows Luke everywhere at training.

The Dribble kid was very early Breust needs to keep doing this and work on his front and centre play and crumping of the ruck at forward throw ins and marking above his head.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

He's tough. Really good contested ball win on the wing knew he had to take the ball and hit the oppo body hard so he could feed it out. As it turned out Amons handball intercepted but good hard football.

He kicks a goal out of nothing every week.

He is really strong at holding front position. We haven't really seen him run and carry yet but he has that in his locker. He is quick but we haven't really seen that yet.

I can see Topiary that he will frustrate but he is very promising as a hybrid leading fwd/crumbing fwd. Will end up a really good size hard to play on.

 

[Rowie6]

Fantastic game for the role he plays, particularly to back himself and kick that beauty! Shows an instinct that we know is there and will bloom in time.

Playing devils advocate however, I am frustrated at times by his taking things for granted. Trying to pick it up one handed, anticipating a bounce of the ball that doesn’t eventuate, running off an opponent only for that player to end up with the pill. He’s learning, and these plays will come off one day, but I feel like he needs to play %’s a bit more at this stage of his career. But kudos - he is improving his involvement in games.

I also noticed that he sometimes holds the ball for 1 or 2 steps longer than he should which leads to him getting tackle so ball being smothered off his boot?


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[MrPremiership]

Has all the tools, just needs the exposure.
Has the attacking side sorted, but will need to keep being reminded of the defensive side. Tackles, pressure.

Looks to have the ability to go in the middle too.

 

[Bugs1977]

Has all the tools, just needs the exposure.
Has the attacking side sorted, but will need to keep being reminded of the defensive side. Tackles, pressure.

Looks to have the ability to go in the middle too.

Agreed. I think it's just the game speed / tempo he needs to get down pat before we see the best of him. A nice breakout game like Connor just had would open the flood gates on his confidence levels 100%

 

[WWSD]

The forward-line has looked a lot better since Butler has come into the team. He hasn’t necessarily dominated in terms of possessions, but his impact inside the forward 50 when the ball hits the ground can’t be underestimated.

 

[KermitJagger]

The forward-line has looked a lot better since Butler has into the team. He hasn’t necessarily dominated in terms of possessions, but his impact inside the forward 50 when the ball hits the ground can’t be underestimated.

Since coming back into the side in round 9 he has been in the top 5 players for distance covered at high speed in 4 out of the 5 of the games he's played. He's led it in 2. He is working very, very hard.

 

[matey]

Butler’s a tough kid and who will always put his head over the sherrin!

 

[toomanysquibs]

The forward-line has looked a lot better since Butler has come into the team. He hasn’t necessarily dominated in terms of possessions, but his impact inside the forward 50 when the ball hits the ground can’t be underestimated.

The uptick in forward pressure since he and Brockman came in alongside Lewis is palpable.

Really important player for our front half, great to see him averaging a goal a game, looking forward to when that number starts to creep up a bit.

 

[kirbatron]

the play when starcevich smothered his kick is the thing I'd like to see him tidy up.

several times his slow decision making has cost him goals

I think this is what tops alludes to with 'instinct'

 

[KermitJagger]

the play when starcevich smothered his kick is the thing I'd like to see him tidy up.

several times his slow decision making has cost him goals

I think this is what tops alludes to with 'instinct'

Not every kid is going to be the finished product right out of the gate, especially when it comes to playing a small forward role. So far he's doing the work rate stuff right, running hard and the rest will come.

 

[burger09]

I'm hoping he is Bruest mk2.

Doesn't look lightning quick, is ok on the tackle. Just a smooth mover who will hopefully become ruthlessly efficient with his opportunities in front of goal.

 

[toomanysquibs]

the play when starcevich smothered his kick is the thing I'd like to see him tidy up.

several times his slow decision making has cost him goals

I think this is what tops alludes to with 'instinct'

I think you are selling him a little short - those are underage and VFL instincts that were correct for him at those levels.

AFL doesn't give him the same time and space, but he's learned the lesson now, and since he's a guy who is always working on his game, that awareness will come.

Even Day and Newcombe looked slow with decision making at times early doors. Takes more than 12 games or so to pick up the pace properly.

 

[Bugs1977]

I think you are selling him a little short - those are underage and VFL instincts that were correct for him at those levels.

AFL doesn't give him the same time and space, but he's learned the lesson now, and since he's a guy who is always working on his game, that awareness will come.

Even Day and Newcombe looked slow with decision making at times early doors. Takes more than 12 games or so to pick up the pace properly.

Like I said earlier in this thread he just needs a break out game like C-mac had the other day. I'm thinking something like a 4 goal + a couple of assist game that comes from some awesome defensive pressure. As a small forward, defensive pressure is how he can make sure he plays his role every week even without hitting the scoreboard which most of the time can / will result in a goal or 2 anyways.

 

[play2win]

the play when starcevich smothered his kick is the thing I'd like to see him tidy up.

several times his slow decision making has cost him goals

I think this is what tops alludes to with 'instinct'

Was thinking at the time how Breust would have nailed that by running/baulking starcevich and snapping a goal from an easier position. Hoping he picks that trait up, as he could be awesome But he has plenty of time still we tend to be too impatient with our youngsters.

 

[lyger]

Like I said earlier in this thread he just needs a break out game like C-mac had the other day. I'm thinking something like a 4 goal + a couple of assist game that comes from some awesome defensive pressure.

He’s a hard worker, blessed with some outstanding athletic qualities, is team oriented, so I think this will come soon enough, and hopefully will catapult him to the next level.

 

[chopflop]

As I said, very happy to be wrong, I know I am hard task master, he has quicker skills, I wish he would show them. I fear he is going to be frustrating, but Butts could be a very good player if he was consistent like Seamus Mitchell, make mistakes, just do, like the great man once said. VG small fwds are instinctive.

I know many will say he is, I too was spoilt by having Cyril, Bruest and Poppy, but you do need xfactor amongst your small fwds if you are to win silverware. Just hope Butts has some of that. Not sure. As I said, very happy for him to prove me wrong.

I wasn't sure on this take in the last few weeks but I can see it a bit now. He seems to lack that sharpness that a good small forward has. Definitely buys into the defensive side but could be one that doesn't out perform his draft position.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

8 touches (per game) over the last two weeks and no scoreboard impact either.

It's hard being a small forward when you're getting embarrassed. But he's still got to find a way to have some influence. Four tackles this week is nice, so hopefully he keeps working at the defensive side even when he's not up to much when we have the ball.