Opinion Butcher

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TheFVK

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We as Port supporters have a very unique, emotionally charged relationship with John.

It started in 09, when we all prayed like anything that he'd slide to our pick 8 in the ND. Oh when he did, the jubilation, the high fives, the backslapping.. we'd got our Great White Hope KPF, finally a player to replace WGT.
Come 2011 and we're at arguably our very nadir as a club. We'd just been beaten by 300 points in 2 weeks, we were down 10 goals after the first against a middling Dogs. Enter the Butch; 6 kicks, 6 goals. With a 4 goal performance the game following, Butch was the one glimmering light in a miserable existence being a Port supporter. He represented hope, a small cause for optimism.
With the will he / won't he stress of signing to come and some big offers from Victorian clubs, most wouldn't have backed him to stick fat. But, he announces his re-signing through a fan-driven "50 ppl down to the Birkenhead and I'll sign" weeknight tweet. With his signature as hot as it gets he could have announced it with a full bells-and-whistles press conference, but instead he opts for the pub with the supporters and his Port mates. How could you not love that.

Since then it's really been all downhill. His confidence has simply been shot to pieces after years of his name being used as a punch-line; the groans, the disappointment, "the future". Has there been a player in South Australia so ridiculed as John? You can see the embarrassment written across his face plain as day, but it certainly hasn't been through lack of trying. Before this game his career was in palliative care; he couldn't even get a game in the forward line for the seconds. With his contract almost up, his prospects looked grim.

Fast forward to today. After a whirlwind 72 hours since his selection as an emergency and last minute callup into the 22, I'm not going to pretend his game was perfect; hell he's far from assured a spot in the 22 next week. But what a sight for sore eyes seeing
a) the ball enter the 50 at the top of the square, and
b) not being marked uncontested by an opposition defender, and
c) being brought to ground for guys like Wingard to crumb and goal in the last.​

He dropped plenty of gettable marks and had all the confidence of Bad Luck Brian at his Yr 11 formal when it came to presenting, but even with that our forward line functioned so much more effectively notwithstanding our players' inaccuracy in front of goal. He made the customary 2 kicks coming off his knee, but like Pittard, with Butcher you're going to have to take the good with the bad, and back him to improve his weaknesses. His work up the ground from defence could present some unforeseen upside to his game as well.

But let's get to it, oh my, that clutch goal. Down by 3 points 5 minutes into the last from a tight angle and he delivers; like RossFC (and no doubt El_Scorcho) how could you not shed a tear for the guy, seeing how much it meant to him and knowing what he's been through these past 4 years. Even if he's dropped and never plays again, as a supporter with an unashamedly emotionally charged and biased opinion of the guy I'll be forever happy for him that he got to go out with that up his sleeve; what a moment.

Ken made it clear in the Press Conference Butch is still desperately trying to save his career and his dream of playing footy every week with the mates he gathered at the Birkenhead 4 years ago when he was the hottest young KPF in town; for our team's sake and Butch's, Christ I hope we just back him for the last month.
 

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raptalia

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Chasing hard and crashing the packs are important but you have to do more than that and yesterday Butcher had no impact for most of the day. Sure he kicked a goal when we needed it but he also failed to get the distance with some sort of helicopter punt from forty meters out at the northern end. From where I sat those were about the only two times he looked like scoring.

It is good that Butcher got the chance to show what he has and I hope he gets another shot at it next week but I didn't see anything yesterday that would suggest that John Butcher will be at Alberton next year. Believe me I would be as happy as a pig in shit to be proved wrong about Butcher but sadly yesterday confirmed more than it disproved. Ken has done all the nice PR things post game but he has said similar things before and the next week Butcher was playing SANFL.
 

scottjr

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No problem with backing Butch in for the next few weeks. Play him off a wing next week more or less Westoffs role let him drop back behind the play when the Hawks get a run on. It's possibly going to get messy but if he shows something there we can find an excuse to keep him on the list. Our mids will use Jay going forward against the Hawks or Paddy just let Butch more or less play the defensive tall.
 

Malibu#27

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Forwards that get the yips but can compete are often turned into defenders at lower levels.
It seems this is what has been happening with John the last month. It's why a cheap contract or rookie spot should be considered if we have doubt on depth talls. He's had good reviews the last month in that role and spent 5 or so down back yesterday.
It's certainly a better option than pick 76 in the draft and a solid season form back with his confidence returning and you have a defender to pinch hit forward.
 

Malibu#27

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I say play Butcher the rest of the season, and damn straight I wana see the bloke succeed, but where's Butch gonna fit into the side when Dixson comes on over? o_O
It he is retained imagine he would continue to play defence in the sanfl where he's been reported to be solid for a month or so.
He'd be essentially depth that can step in at either end. But long term he may well be a defender that can pinch forward until the point he has a game where the kicking yips disappear.
 

Nemisis

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I though Butch played a half decent game even before he kicked his goal. Nothing special .but he added much needed aggression in the marking contests and always presented. What I don't understand is how come he has returned to the 'spinners run up'? A decent run up for a set shot is 101 in goal kicking. Forward coach ... hello
 

OneGreatClub

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But was it? As far as I saw* one perfect AFL goal, one accurate kick that fell short.
His lack of wins in contested marking is far more his issue, and has been for a long time. Very important today was the willingness to have a crack at goal kicking. Even in the SANFL GF last year it was all darting eyes and 'please someone else take responsibility.'

* as always I reserve the right to be smarter after watching the replay
Agree his confidence was shot last year. Glad he had a chance to show something yesterday and hopefully going forward
Need to rest Schulz' back anyway.
 

Magpiespower

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I can see Butcher as a 10 season +60 game guy.
Can actually see Kane Mitchell being this guy.

* Puts on helmet and flak jacket *

There's some blokes teammates just love playing with who bring more to the group than anything Champion Data can provide.

Carlton's injury-plagued Luke O'Sullivan was the classic example. Tommy Logan seems a bit like that, too.

LMAO at the thought of posters still venting about Mitchell in 2020...
 

chiwigi

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We as Port supporters have a very unique, emotionally charged relationship with John.

It started in 09, when we all prayed like anything that he'd slide to our pick 8 in the ND. Oh when he did, the jubilation, the high fives, the backslapping.. we'd got our Great White Hope KPF, finally a player to replace WGT.
Come 2011 and we're at arguably our very nadir as a club. We'd just been beaten by 300 points in 2 weeks, we were down 10 goals after the first against a middling Dogs. Enter the Butch; 6 kicks, 6 goals. With a 4 goal performance the game following, Butch was the one glimmering light in a miserable existence being a Port supporter. He represented hope, a small cause for optimism.
With the will he / won't he stress of signing to come and some big offers from Victorian clubs, most wouldn't have backed him to stick fat. But, he announces his re-signing through a fan-driven "50 ppl down to the Birkenhead and I'll sign" weeknight tweet. With his signature as hot as it gets he could have announced it with a full bells-and-whistles press conference, but instead he opts for the pub with the supporters and his Port mates. How could you not love that.

Since then it's really been all downhill. His confidence has simply been shot to pieces after years of his name being used as a punch-line; the groans, the disappointment, "the future". Has there been a player in South Australia so ridiculed as John? You can see the embarrassment written across his face plain as day, but it certainly hasn't been through lack of trying. Before this game his career was in palliative care; he couldn't even get a game in the forward line for the seconds. With his contract almost up, his prospects looked grim.

Fast forward to today. After a whirlwind 72 hours since his selection as an emergency and last minute callup into the 22, I'm not going to pretend his game was perfect; hell he's far from assured a spot in the 22 next week. But what a sight for sore eyes seeing
a) the ball enter the 50 at the top of the square, and
b) not being marked uncontested by an opposition defender, and
c) being brought to ground for guys like Wingard to crumb and goal in the last.​

He dropped plenty of gettable marks and had all the confidence of Bad Luck Brian at his Yr 11 formal when it came to presenting, but even with that our forward line functioned so much more effectively notwithstanding our players' inaccuracy in front of goal. He made the customary 2 kicks coming off his knee, but like Pittard, with Butcher you're going to have to take the good with the bad, and back him to improve his weaknesses. His work up the ground from defence could present some unforeseen upside to his game as well.

But let's get to it, oh my, that clutch goal. Down by 3 points 5 minutes into the last from a tight angle and he delivers; like RossFC (and no doubt El_Scorcho) how could you not shed a tear for the guy, seeing how much it meant to him and knowing what he's been through these past 4 years. Even if he's dropped and never plays again, as a supporter with an unashamedly emotionally charged and biased opinion of the guy I'll be forever happy for him that he got to go out with that up his sleeve; what a moment.

Ken made it clear in the Press Conference Butch is still desperately trying to save his career and his dream of playing footy every week with the mates he gathered at the Birkenhead 4 years ago when he was the hottest young KPF in town; for our team's sake and Butch's, Christ I hope we just back him for the last month.
Fantastic summation, quoted as it deserved more than a like.

He has only played 25 games! 1 season....1 season.!
 

OneGreatClub

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You can just see in his eyes he lacks confidence. I've dealt with younger people enough to know talent really shines along with the confidence. There's amazing talent out there in every facet of life that will never be uncovered, because people are scared of what other people think of them.
And the abusive supporter elements in our crowd somehow seem to believe that bagging him is helping his confidence? Shits me off big time. How about they save that for the opposition. People are plain ignorant and dumb.
 

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Zakk Wylde

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Well I was in the rooms pre game yesterday and Schulz was kitted up going through his routine and stretching etc.

Then after about 15 minutes when the whole team were going through their warm up and went out for their first on ground kick around, Butcher appeared in his warm up gear and had to go through all the stretches on his own.

Was obviously a real late decision to leave out Schulz.

Such an amazing experience being in the inner sanctum like that. You can really tell why Kane Mitchell is so popular around the club... Such a positive, encouraging voice. His constant "Carn Pear" encouragement cries made me smile.
 
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And the abusive supporter elements in our crowd somehow seem to believe that bagging him is helping his confidence? Shits me off big time. How about they save that for the opposition. People are plain ignorant and dumb.
I posted in another thread about this. There was a couple of supporters around us that were just terrible. I've never heard such venom directed at our own players. One guy had enough and told them why bother coming to bag your own players you effen d**khead
 
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When he kicked the goal his confidence was high from his work up the field and he wanted the ball. He wanted to kick it
Unfortunately the next time he got near it he led well, I think it was broadbent who kicked it to him nicely, but he went the spoil instead of the mark. Would've loved him to clunk it and slot his second
 

tribey

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And the abusive supporter elements in our crowd somehow seem to believe that bagging him is helping his confidence? Shits me off big time. How about they save that for the opposition. People are plain ignorant and dumb.
There were three middle-aged ****wits behind me who bagged his every move early and were giving it a "don't kick it to Butcher" every other time we went into our F50.

When he took that mark and kicked his goal they didn't say a word.

I'll never understand it.
 

*PAF

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Butch gave us one goal (which to his credit was the most important one) and two shots from inside 50 that failed to make the distance. But he did also set up a goal for Robbie Gray by crashing a pack, and that sort of thing is the main advantage that he has over Mason. Mason doesn't crash packs like Butch does. Not yet anyway.
...
It was more than a goal.
Have another look at Wingard's goals in the last quarter. Yep both of them.
 

tribey

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So, just watched the replay of his mark and goal.

He started the chain of events by leading hard to the back flank and then obviously charged up the field to finish off.

Is anyone in our team that isn't Chad Wingard capable of that?
 
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On the whole though the crowd sounded like it wanted Butch to do well. There was a building roar whenever he went near the ball and a huge cheer when he grabbed it. The bloke behind me was so keen he multiplied Butch's stats by crediting him with Some of Ryder's work up forward. And of course pandemonium when he slotted that goal. It was great to see his team mates get around him too.

There was also the collective groan when the kicks went wayward but as is the way with society most people are decent and want a bloke to succeed especially the much maligned - that whole underdog thing. Even at Alberton with much smaller crowds the effect is there.

As I said after watching the Port v Centrals game a few weeks back so what you like about Butch but even buried in defence at $anfl level he gives it his all no word of complaint no hesitation. And he gets in and stands up for smaller younger team mates like a big guy should.

Every kick for goal yesterday was an exercise in low self-esteem. He took every kick off 1-3 steps like he just wanted to get it over with. Macca19 noted from the pre-match he has a routine but he loses it on the ground. Maybe Buddhism would help.

I'll never be convinced he's entirely sure himself what he's doing but he does have see ball get ball at the front of his brain.
 
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