He played like how a resting ruck plays up forward - think back to Primus, Brogan etc. Crashed a few packs, chased a bit, but provided no leading, no repeat leading, unable to get any space on his opponent and was constantly caught out of position (hence the best he could actually do was just crash a few packs). You hope they clunk a mark and kick a goal and thats it. Had a good last quarter, and I was as excited as anyone when he went near the ball, but these are issues that he's had since day 1 and hasn't improved since day 1.
He played exactly how you'd expect a 24 game KPF who has spent a month playing in defence at SANFL level to play. Better, even. If he's backed in for a few games, a few more of those marks stick, he makes a few more good runs, and he ends up with a 4 goal 7 mark game.
Most importantly, he did exactly what i've been saying for 2 years he'd do for our structure. All of a sudden our forward entries were direct. There was no kicking to a player leading out to the boundary. Our players had faith that Butch would make a contest. Westhoff was able to get freer than usual. The smalls got involved. We played like a normal football team going inside 50.
We are a better football team with that sort of player in the side. I'm happy for him to play the next 50 games like that with the odd bigger game thrown in. We'll be a better side for it.
As someone said in the review thread, having 2 6'5 targets up there absolutely wreaked havoc with the GWS defenders, and there was so much more space in the forward 50 than usual.
Our normal tall forwardline doesn't contain that sort of player and tonight showed me just how much we need it. Imagine if he was a 60-70 gamer and was clunking a few more of those marks and a bit more au fait with the players delivering him the ball. He turns into a very valuable player.