Recommitted Sam Butler [Re-Signed to 2027]

[bzparkes]

So,, your man has committed two more years? Ammirite?

Yes, he took roughly $3.8 million over the guaranteed $19.8m Hawks offered.

 

[HairyO]

Best prospect in the league isn't going to wear toilet colours, drop the copium

Unure what you mean. He just won his 2nd NS in 2 years and Brisbane very much have toilet-adjacent colours.

As to what Butler's role is, fwd/mid similar to Moore and Watson rotating through the middle is my assumption.

 

[bzparkes]

Unure what you mean. He just won his 2nd NS in 2 years and Brisbane very much have toilet-adjacent colours.

If you're seeing those colours when you go the toilet, then it's probably time you got a colonoscopy.

 

[MasterSamurai]

If you're seeing those colours when you go the toilet, then it's probably time you got a colonoscopy.

I see
Brown = Earth
Gold = Fire

Not sure where the **** your mind is at but hay, let your loved ones deal with a nutter like you.

 

[Shueygod]

Guaranteed West Coast had an 11 year offer in front of Harley as well. He's playing it very smart because in 2 years he'll be in the perfect position to cash in on Tasmania'a newly announced 5m sign on bonus fund.

Would've been nice to secure Harley at the Hawks since he and Wiz are good mates, but it's not the end of the world that we didn't get him.

It's not like we've had multiple spoons and are coming off the back of an AFL record 1 win season

I’ll take the spoons building a team that can win a premiership over the vanilla Hawks, better pray for Merrett as you boys are desperate for some elite talent to go with your workmanlike team.

 

[leighmo]

This thread is gearing up! Just to recap: WC play like poo-wee but Hawks look it. Hawthorn posters seem to not understand basic maths (salty about Harley?) and they apparently have blood in their stool?

I thought this thread would be done but I think some feelings have been hurt.

 

[bzparkes]

I see
Brown = Earth
Gold = Fire

Not sure where the **** your mind is at but hay, let your loved ones deal with a nutter like you.

That's great and all but what does it have to do with the Brisbane Lions kit?

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Eagles fans still all cool and normal regarding anything Hawthorn.

 

[leighmo]

Eagles fans still all cool and normal regarding anything Hawthorn.

 

[Shueygod]

Eagles fans still all cool and normal regarding anything Hawthorn.

Rent free in your head SYL.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Rent free in your head SYL.

You’re literally still in this thread, posting rubbish…

 

[leighmo]

You’re literally still in this thread, posting rubbish…

Eagles fans still all cool and normal regarding anything Hawthorn.

 

[Upgrayedd]

Hawthorn have handled Butler, Hurstwaite and Serong really poorly. If form at BHHs counted for anything all three would have played several games for Hawthorn this year.
Regarding, Butler Hawthorn needs to upgrade its offer. He clearly is worth three years on reasonable coin and this would probably, be enough to hold on to a required player.

Butler broke his leg badly last year and was managed.

Butler is IMO the most talented and promising out of the lot and would of played every game however coming back he's had rests

Serrong is just stuck behind some solid defensive KPP's

 

[Upgrayedd]

So for someone who has Butler in their keeper team as a fringe drop player with upside.

Hawks fans. Where does Butler sit in 26/27. Does he have a future in the midfield or is his role set up forward?

He looks promising in bursts. Looks like he'll benefit from a full preseason if he can keep the body right.

Best would be HFF rotating through the midfield for us

100% understand if he wanted more money and a shot at a starting gig in the midfield

Stoked he signed on. Having guys been able to

Great teams always have guys who have sacrificed their game to play elsewhere and able to be a "break glass incase of emergency" type player. Which I believe Butler is potentially that good.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

I feel he has Dev Robertsoned himself but only time will tell

Prove me wrong Sam

 

[Ka Norkers]

I feel he has Dev Robertsoned himself but only time will tell

Prove me wrong Sam

yea, you might be right. But the alternative, playing for the Eagles and having to live in that isolated, desolate shithole they call Perth, is a far scarier proposition than playing for Box Hill.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

yea, you might be right. But the alternative, playing for the Eagles and having to live in that isolated, desolate shithole they call Perth, is a far scarier proposition than playing for Box Hill.

Scary is the word . He didnt take a risk because it was scary to do so...

 

[leighmo]

yea, you might be right. But the alternative, playing for the Eagles and having to live in that isolated, desolate shithole they call Perth, is a far scarier proposition than playing for Box Hill.

Actually everyone calls it Perth. You’re a real pleasant, bright spark, aren’t you?

 

[5minutes_of_Dew]

Wrap it up folks.

Butler stays at the Hawks.

The animosity Eagles fans feel towards Mitchell since the Barass dealings should be nothing compared to the thanks they should feel for the flag he helped deliver them as their midfield coach.

Time to move on.

 

[leighmo]

Wrap it up folks.

Butler stays at the Hawks.

The animosity Eagles fans feel towards Mitchell since the Barass dealings should be nothing compared to the thanks they should feel for the flag he helped deliver them as their midfield coach.

Time to move on.

No animosity towards Mitchell or the hawks. But the condescension shown by some of its supporters is only topped by this sanctimonious comment

 

[bluespooner]

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.

Breust kicked 47 goals in 2023, your post gives the impression he was coming off a 47 goal season in 2024, in 2024 he played 19 games and kicked 21 goals. A fair proportion of those 21 goals in 2024 where of the 'joe the goose' variety and he has never been a forward that has provided much defensive pressure. In an era where defence needs to begin in your own forward-line he has always been sub-standard. Breust should never have been getting games ahead of a fit Butler.

I would dispute that Sicily is the club's best player and the Crimmins medal will support this view. Sicily was decidely ordinary for an extended patch this year and should have been dropped. And yes, I honestly believe that Serong would have been a better option at that time, he had a stellar season at BHHs. Often, Serong was taking the opposition's most dangerous forward and providing considerable drive and attack from the backline. If it was good enough for Scrimshaw to go back to BHH then it should have been good enough for Sicily.

It is amazing you say that an AFL player should be able to dominate the VFL but that doesn't always happen. Case in mind, MacKenzie who hawthorn posters think is the second-coming of Mitchell well he has struggled to impose himself in the VFL. MacKenzie's form in the VFL is becoming a huge concern as it is exposing a lot of his frailties as a footballer; average burst speed, does not have a penetrating kick, and has little ability on his left hand side. It has me wondering if he will make it. Whilst, I'm not sure if Hurstwaite will make it he has looked considerably better than MacKenzie at BHHs.

I watched all of BHHs games this year (by video) and I never saw CJ play any wonderful games. He played some alright games and others where he was bog average, and I think there were others who were more deserving of promotion. I think Seamus Mitchell can feel harshly done by as he compares more than favourably with CJ in terms of football IQ and skillset.

I do agree with you that ladder position has to be a consideration in blooding younger recruits or in going with experience. However, Butler, Reeves, Seamus Mitchell and Serong had all played for hawthorn previously and should have been a consideration for selection during the mid-season slump. Nor, do I think Breust being an ex-teammate and good friend of Mitchell's is consistent with the best team approach you claim a priority in a contending year. I think ultimately the fact that Mitchell was not prepared to go outside of a preferred group for selection was a factor in BHH's form towards the end of the season.

A lot of the hawthorn listed BHH players looked to have checked out due to the fact that their BHH form and performances for first team selection were seen to be largely irrelevant.

 

[GinniAndTonic]

Circle jerking in a fringe player thread.

Absolutely embarrassing.

Imagine offering a fringe player 2 extra years and a chunk more cash and getting knocked back

 

[Jeremy McLovin]

Imagine offering a fringe player 2 extra years and a chunk more cash and getting knocked back

Imagine offering a player nine more years and getting knocked back

 

[txbyhull]

Wow you lot, including other eagles fans, are so petty. It’s like going back in to teaching prac all over again. Genuine school children level bickering

 

[bzparkes]

Wow you lot, including other eagles fans, are so petty. It’s like going back in to teaching prac all over again. Genuine school children level bickering