Recommitted Sam Butler [Re-Signed to 2027]

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Now sure why we arent throwing our hat in the ring for him, especially after Rosas chose Sydney. Maybe we will.

You guys are but its a mile behind the Eagles offer. I doubt youd be as dumb as we are

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Recency bias is not something you should back yourself to overcome unless you enjoy running into failure, especially at Hawthorn. Serong/Hustwaite could not have done any more at VFL level and they didnt crack the best 22... and that is very fair too

The bias Watson/Ginnivan/Moore/Macdonald have isnt going to be overcome even if Butler gets 35 possessions a game at VFL level

Leaving is backing yourself in to take the opportunity. Staying is waiting for the opportunity you would get by simply leaving. You should never wait for success, go get it yourself

What bias? Ginni was literally stopped earlier this year and then came back in great form.

Sering just isn’t better than the players ahead of him.

Just was given a shot and didn’t take it. Butler will be given chances and it’s up to him to take them.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

What bias? Ginni was literally stopped earlier this year and then came back in great form.

Sering just isn’t better than the players ahead of him.

Just was given a shot and didn’t take it. Butler will be given chances and it’s up to him to take them.

Waiting for injury or for someone else to fail to be given chances seems a crap way to earn a living. Id rather just join a club that backs me in from day one with a chance that doesnt rely on that

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Waiting for injury or for someone else to fail to be given chances seems a crap way to earn a living. Id rather just join a club that backs me in from day one with a chance that doesnt rely on that

Again that is where the improvement comes in, if he improves even just marginally he will be a lock best 22.

Now I don’t begrudge him if he chooses to leave for more opportunities, but staying isn’t some loser move or accepting being a fringe player. Maybe he just feels he can reach the stage where he will be best 22 at a club that is also contending for flags.

 

[TONYC3163]

Are the eagles posters the most precious group in the AFL?

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Are the eagles posters the most precious group in the AFL?

Yes we are.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Again that is where the improvement comes in, if he improves even just marginally he will be a lock best 22.

Now I don’t begrudge him if he chooses to leave for more opportunities, but staying isn’t some loser move or accepting being a fringe player. Maybe he just feels he can reach the stage where he will be best 22 at a club that is also contending for flags.

Dont agree with that aspect myself. I think you got the best group of HFFs in the AFL who can then step into midfield. Nothing is breaking that group up, not even Sam Butlers best form

 

[tiger_tough]

You guys are but its a mile behind the Eagles offer. I doubt youd be as dumb as we are

Any specifics? Not sure where we're spending all our cap.

 

[Jeremy McLovin]

Don't worry about Day, on top of it now and he'll be 200% fit come opening round.

Does 200% fit mean that this time he lasts four games before breaking down again?

 

[Lia]

Circle jerking in a fringe player thread.

Absolutely embarrassing.

 

[bluespooner]

Butler and Hust did play several games this year.

Butler was returning from a major leg injury and was still needing it managed throuhought the year.

Hust did play AFL footy but never really managed to cement a spot

and Serong was stuck behind Battle Barrass, Sicily, Scrimshaw, Weddle so not sure who you are thinking he should have been getting a game over.

Breust was played this year, often coming in without even playing at BHHs. Butler had one off game and was not seen again until the finals even though he was ripping it up at BHHs.

Hurstwaite got to play two halves before being subbed out. Worpel had an extended patch of poor form and should have been dropped.

Sicily was completely out of form but Mitchell would not drop him; eventually they gave him a fortnight off to recover from niggles. Serong could have easily played.

CJ straight into Hawthorn's team after a mediocre performance at BHHs. Why was Serong, BnF winner and named in the VFL team of the year, not afforded the same treatment at selection. CJ should definitely been dropped after the Fremantle game for dogging a contest that gave the Fremantle the win.

Morrison being named all year, despite having no physical presence and the team being too small all year. You have four small forwards - Ginnivan, MacDonald, Watson & Breust; Morrison on a wing; Ward and Worpel in the middle; Amon in defence - all short players. Too many small players with a lack of physicality which is why Serong could easily have been tried especially in the patch of poor form they went through and with his height and aerial skills on a wing he would have been very handy.

Unfortunately, Mitchell is a lot like Clarkson playing favourites, reminds me of Josh Gibson being played after he was totally cooked and getting carved up every week.

 

[Burtman]

Breust was played this year, often coming in without even playing at BHHs. Butler had one off game and was not seen again until the finals even though he was ripping it up at BHHs.

Hurstwaite got to play two halves before being subbed out. Worpel had an extended patch of poor form and should have been dropped.

Sicily was completely out of form but Mitchell would not drop him; eventually they gave him a fortnight off to recover from niggles. Serong could have easily played.

CJ straight into Hawthorn's team after a mediocre performance at BHHs. Why was Serong, BnF winner and named in the VFL team of the year, not afforded the same treatment at selection. CJ should definitely been dropped after the Fremantle game for dogging a contest that gave the Fremantle the win.

Morrison being named all year, despite having no physical presence and the team being too small all year. You have four small forwards - Ginnivan, MacDonald, Watson & Breust; Morrison on a wing; Ward and Worpel in the middle; Amon in defence - all short players. Too many small players with a lack of physicality which is why Serong could easily have been tried especially in the patch of poor form they went through and with his height and aerial skills on a wing he would have been very handy.

Unfortunately, Mitchell is a lot like Clarkson playing favourites, reminds me of Josh Gibson being played after he was totally cooked and getting carved up every week.

His one off game was an injury that he missed multiple games with might want to check your facts there.

 

[SSSSSS]

Breust was played this year, often coming in without even playing at BHHs. Butler had one off game and was not seen again until the finals even though he was ripping it up at BHHs.

Hurstwaite got to play two halves before being subbed out. Worpel had an extended patch of poor form and should have been dropped.

Sicily was completely out of form but Mitchell would not drop him; eventually they gave him a fortnight off to recover from niggles. Serong could have easily played.

CJ straight into Hawthorn's team after a mediocre performance at BHHs. Why was Serong, BnF winner and named in the VFL team of the year, not afforded the same treatment at selection. CJ should definitely been dropped after the Fremantle game for dogging a contest that gave the Fremantle the win.

Morrison being named all year, despite having no physical presence and the team being too small all year. You have four small forwards - Ginnivan, MacDonald, Watson & Breust; Morrison on a wing; Ward and Worpel in the middle; Amon in defence - all short players. Too many small players with a lack of physicality which is why Serong could easily have been tried especially in the patch of poor form they went through and with his height and aerial skills on a wing he would have been very handy.

Unfortunately, Mitchell is a lot like Clarkson playing favourites, reminds me of Josh Gibson being played after he was totally cooked and getting carved up every week.

Morrison was our best wingmen all season prior to his injury, especially with Massimo down on form.

Would not at all surprise me if he was top 10 in our B&F before going down. Did a lot of unheralded things.

Serong isn't mobile enough to play as a wingmen in the AFL imo. It's a different beast playing seniors compared to the 2s. I do agree he should have been given some games when Sicily was injured rather than trying to play him through it. That was a little baffling.

CJ came into Hawthorn's team when Morrison went down as we needed a player capable of playing on the wing.

 

[Guardian Hawk]

Unfortunately, Mitchell is a lot like Clarkson playing favourites, reminds me of Josh Gibson being played after he was totally cooked and getting carved up every week.

Strongly disagree on this one.

Luke Breust is an ex-teammate and good friend of Mitchell. He came into last year having just kicked 47 goals, led the Hawthorn goalkicking and made the AA squad.

After 2.5 games (with a niggle), Breust was dropped. Over the next 2 years (last season and this season) he was played as sub 19 times, not selected at all 24 times and only given 5 full games. Of the 5 games he was given he had a 4 goal game, a 2 goal game, a 1 goal and 3 assists game, etc. He was a very solid contributor yet was returned to being sub despite being a 'favourite' of Mitchell.

At the start of this year, Gunston was in the 2's and expected to be there all year. He was given a shot as sub in Round 3, kicked 2 goals and an assist and started every game for the rest of the year. Ward was also considered outside the best 22 at the start of the year. Worpel missed through injury, Ward had 22 touches vs Essendon and kept his spot all year.

McKenzie was the one who started the season in the side but as soon as his form fell away, he went back to Box Hill. Ginnivan is a favourite of Mitchell but when his form warranted it, he was also dropped. When he dominated at Box Hill, he got a recall and kept his spot through excellent performances.

Clasher Dear is a favourite of Mitchell's and was rushed back in as soon as he was fit. He had a very poor game so he was sent back to Box Hill until his form warranted him being selected again.

Last year, Reeves started as No 1 ruck. Meek got a chance as 2nd ruck, took it and has held his spot since, despite Reeves being initially favoured.

Morrisson was our best performed wingman all season. He didn't really have a bad game (and had a few very, very good ones). As unfashionable as he is, there is absolutely no way he should have been dropped - especially not for someone wo was mostly being played as a tall defender at VFL level.

Butler also got his chances and only went out of the side when he was injured. Lewis (who most considered a lock for a key forward spot when fit) had to earn his way back in and was also sent back to the VFL when his form dropped.

You mention CJ needing to be dropped but he was, several times! He was also relegated to sub and he also had wonderful games at Box Hill.

Sicily is our captain and best player. Even his 'bad form' was mostly by his standards - not by the standards of a young VFL player. He was still averaging 20 disposals, was top 25 in the league for intercepts and was swung forward late in games to excellent effect, where he kicked 6 goals and 3 assists to win us a couple of close ones. If you honestly believe Jai Serong would have outperformed even a 75% fit Sicily, I'm not sure what to say.

The thing is, nearly all AFL players dominate at VFL level - even the fringe ones. Even Finn Maginness gives Bontempelli vibes at VFL level. Yes, you need to reward players hat are consistently performing at VFL level (as Mitchell did) but if you have quality AFL players in their place (such as Sicily, Weddle and Scrimshaw in the place of Serong), it's not 'playing favourites' if he doesn't get a go (those players would absolutely destroy VFL level - hell, Sicily did as a kid playing forward).

We still needed to win games this year and selecting seasoned AFL performers will give you the best chance of doing so - I think Mitchell selected based on form more than most tbh - as the above examples clearly demonstrate.

Edit: (forgot to add) I also think there's a huge difference between Clarko selecting ageing past it players when your team is bottom 4 and desperately needing to rebuild and Mitchell selecting seasoned AFL players when it takes 15 wins to make finals and there's a couple of goals in the last round between finishing top 4 and scraping into the 8. Giving lots of games to inexperienced youngsters is the obvious play in the former circumstance, not so much the latter.

 

[Yummy5454]

Has to be Hawks, throw a tantrum when told their team that snuck into 8th doesn’t have 15 A graders and their u21s have less improvement than the far higher rated talents of Bris/GC.

Made a prelim btw

Maybe the AFL assistance package will get you guys to 2 wins for the year

 

[triple treat]

If it's not why hasn't he signed yet?

Simple really to arrive at that conclusion I would have thought.

Or maybe its got nothing to do with the contract and more to do with if he sees himself getting regular gametime next year in the midfeild if we get some of the players we are after!

 

[Farang83150]

Yep, knew the precious ones would self report.

Why bother coming into a thread you obviously couldn't care less about to just troll?

 

[HeHateMe]

Think he might be staying, well I hope he can work it out with the club.

 

[tiger_tough]

Re-signed for 2 years.

 

[Burtman]

Guess that’s loss 23 for the eagles this year

 

[Ka Norkers]

gee, what a surprise. Butler never the slightest bit interested in joining the Eagles, despite the nonsense dished out by some of the media.

 

[amazingjoshy]

Would been a handy get but hardly a surprise given he played finals

Can't criticise WC for having a crack

 

[Hawks_Footy]

Sucked in WC

 

[amazingjoshy]

Now I know how Hawks fans felt when Harley rejected them

 

[SSSSSS]

Would been a handy get but hardly a surprise given he played finals

Can't criticise WC for having a crack

Never a bad idea to ask the question.

I'm sure you've got plenty of other targets.

Happy for Sam and hopefully he can keep on building upon a great end to the season.