Player Watch Welcome to Hawthorn: Pick 23, Sam Butler

[Blackhawk42]

No.

I have been watching Box Hill and worried because he is someone who we drafted for his skills, hunt and football IQ. And in the last 2 weeks he did not play on from a single mark, looked very shaken, held up play on fast breaks due to indecisiveness. And especially at Pirahna Park last week he was killing the ball by foot and having a lot of trouble finding it.

So I ask, is anything going on.

I noticed those things from what I watched of yesterdays game also.

However, we need to understand that this is a kid in his first season, having his first competitive games against men after two very heavily impacted years of footy due to Covid.

In modern footy, every game is re-watched by the coaches and players as part of their education. The things you've listed may indeed be true, but they'll be pointed out and refined as time goes on. If it was late next season and we're still seeing the same mistakes and he hasn't debuted yet, THEN we can be a little more concerned.

 

[Adrian Dodoro]

I noticed those things from what I watched of yesterdays game also.

However, we need to understand that this is a kid in his first season, having his first competitive games against men after two very heavily impacted years of footy due to Covid.

In modern footy, every game is re-watched by the coaches and players as part of their education. The things you've listed may indeed be true, but they'll be pointed out and refined as time goes on. If it was late next season and we're still seeing the same mistakes and he hasn't debuted yet, THEN we can be a little more concerned.

Yeah I think the amount of football taken away from draftees from COVID gets forgotten, that didn't cross my mind at all.

But glad someone else noticed, wasn't trying to be over critical of the kid but just surprised when desicion making and skills were his strengths in his under age year. I just hope he's totally over his injuries, between his draft year and this pre season he's had rotten luck.

 

[Flukey!]

He kicked a couple on the weekend did he not?

 

[hardway]

He isn’t super quick but he seems super evasive. Looks a little laconic, hopefully with improved fitness some midfield time will come as he is a clean one grab player.

 

[TheFourPillars]

He isn’t super quick but he seems super evasive. Looks a little laconic, hopefully with improved fitness some midfield time will come as he is a clean one grab player.

He is super quick let me assure u

 

[Dewyyyyy]

He isn’t super quick but he seems super evasive. Looks a little laconic, hopefully with improved fitness some midfield time will come as he is a clean one grab player.

Nah he's super quick.

He's very Dan, probably better talent wise and i think will be better.

 

[hardway]

Nah he's super quick.

He's very Dan, probably better talent wise and i think will be better.

Haven’t seen him put his foot down yet, but have seen him evade players quite easily with lateral movements.

 

[hawkguru]

He's had a interrupted pre season and just dusting of the cobwebs. Can't expect him to debut on the back of 3 vfl games, give the kid some time he'll come good

 

[daniel23]

I'd be more worried about seamus .

 

[hardway]

I'd be more worried about seamus .

Yeah offers very little. Had a look at the draft we picked him up in to see who we could’ve picked up and there isn’t much that went after him that I would be disappointed that we missed out on. Gulden the only one but was always going to the swans. Seems a weak draft from pick 25 onwards.

 

[TheFourPillars]

Yeah offers very little. Had a look at the draft we picked him up in to see who we could’ve picked up and there isn’t much that went after him that I would be disappointed that we missed out on. Gulden the only one but was always going to the swans. Seems a weak draft from pick 25 onwards.

Wouldnt count him out just yet a bit behind the eight ball with his fitness. This was first pre season. Just building his fitness and game day prep atm

 

[eldorado]

Yeah offers very little.

How many VFL games were there last season?

 

[hardway]

How many VFL games were there last season?

Probably the same amount of TAC games in which Ward and McDonald played in.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Probably the same amount of TAC games in which Ward and McDonald played in.

Less.

 

[theiaofseed]

Yeah offers very little. Had a look at the draft we picked him up in to see who we could’ve picked up and there isn’t much that went after him that I would be disappointed that we missed out on. Gulden the only one but was always going to the swans. Seems a weak draft from pick 25 onwards.

If think about what you said you might work out that players drafted in this period had their development slowed and will need time to work through it, other then Gulden no one has really stepped up yet.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

Yeah I think the amount of football taken away from draftees from COVID gets forgotten, that didn't cross my mind at all.

But glad someone else noticed, wasn't trying to be over critical of the kid but just surprised when desicion making and skills were his strengths in his under age year. I just hope he's totally over his injuries, between his draft year and this pre season he's had rotten luck.

You have gone early. He hasn't looked out of place at VFL level. Yes stuffed some things up but also shown some quality glimpses being able to get out of a contest with wheels and balance.

 

[hardway]

Less.

10 VFL 9 TAC

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

10 VFL 9 TAC

They also had a 4 week gap where School footy was played.

 

[theiaofseed]

10 VFL 9 TAC

Doesn't matter Mitchell was injured from the time he was drafted until July and spent the entire preseason in a moon boot, only played the 2 VFL games with very limited game time.

Oh off the back of no football in 2020.

 

[chopflop]

Production wasn't his strong suit in the U18s. He wasn't dominating statistically at all.

He is a player with elite tools and traits e.g. speed/endurance mix, great jumping ability, strong tackling and amazing balance. This is why he was drafted where he was.

MacDonald and Ward averaged like 30s and we're putting the production next to their athletic potential. Hence they are more ready.

Butler is a project but if it all comes together he could be very very very good. Let's not get impatient hey

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

Captain Sis picked out Butler last year and brought him to coach Sams attention.

 

[TylerDurden]

Production wasn't his strong suit in the U18s. He wasn't dominating statistically at all.

He is a player with elite tools and traits e.g. speed/endurance mix, great jumping ability, strong tackling and amazing balance. This is why he was drafted where he was.

MacDonald and Ward averaged like 30s and we're putting the production next to their athletic potential. Hence they are more ready.

Butler is a project but if it all comes together he could be very very very good. Let's not get impatient hey

Sicily was a massive fan.

 

[The German Hunter]

Can’t believe he hasn’t got a rising star nomination
DELIST

 

[Adebisi]

Nah he's super quick.

He's very Dan, probably better talent wise and i think will be better.

“I’m gonna pretend my dick didn’t just go soft”
Kenny Powers

 

[SSSSSS]

No pressure on the kid but Butler needs to make it. Speed and aggression is the hallmark of Sam's gameplan. Butler has it in spades.