Opinion Butcher

[Andre]

Truth be told with now the likelyhood of Schulz staying at the club, I just don't know how Butcher will help the team here.

I guess there's a good chance Dixon will miss some games and that is where he can come in to help but that is already pushing the depth there since Lobbe may or may not be part of the final 22 due to structures and team balance.

Then again, I guess extra extra depth isn't a bad thing.

Dixon and Schulz have both missed games this year with injuries. Dixon is on-going issues and Jay's durability is only going to get less next year, a year older. Odds are if we want to play Westhoff + 2 genuine KPF's next year (and god I hope we do), then Butcher is likely to play anywhere from 5 - 15 games anyway. Given Shaw is no where near it and Harvey is still exhausted running to the mailbox he's a keeper for next year. Then when Schulz goes it's whether his kicking has improved.

 

[ImportExport]

i just dont understand how a professional footballer can still have the approach John has when kicking from a set shot. It seem he has no set routine for starters, ive seen him take 2 steps, 10 steps etc etc, he holds the ball to close to his body as he drops it and he doesnt lean his body body forward enough before the last step on his left leg. what happens is this, his last step on the left leg becomes too short because he isnt leaning forward enoung, he then feels he has to hold the ball closer to his body when dropping it because of that short step and then the ball doesnt drop correctly and it hits hits his foot on an angle

 

[Doctor Feel]

Butchers durability isn't the best either.

 

[BrockBlitz]

Butchers durability isn't the best either.

Been pretty good this year though !

Last year it was illness that got him, not injury really from memory.

He has body has been holding up lately.

 

[philthy05]

Here's hoping his body has turned a corner. Younseemthat sometimes , especially with the bigger players. They struggle at the start but then it's clear sailing..

 

[Forzaport]

Truth be told with now the likelyhood of Schulz staying at the club, I just don't know how Butcher will help the team here.

I guess there's a good chance Dixon will miss some games and that is where he can come in to help but that is already pushing the depth there since Lobbe may or may not be part of the final 22 due to structures and team balance.

Then again, I guess extra extra depth isn't a bad thing.

Butcher's survival on our list isn't just dependent on what Schulz decides to do. There's also Harvey (work-rate) and Shaw (injuries/go home) who are both looking shaky at the moment.

 

[Dalfino]

He has only played a handful of games as a defender and none as a swingman. and he played alright as a defender. So what are you basing your opinion on?

Westhoff wasn't seen as a defender or swingman prior to 2013. We persisted in trying to make him a tall forward. Has done alright since moving into the swing role.

In my opinion he seems too lumbering and uncoordinated to be a reliable defender. You could say that Trengrove is quite awkward movement wise but his height and grunt balance that out for him. The Hoff also seems like a dawdling fool when he's jogging across the field but the glimpses of his elite skills, height and pace prove the doubters wrong. Butcher doesn't seem to be aggressive or assertive enough as a defender to take up responsibility at critical situations or have the capacity to play the swingman role. The way Westhoff turned out does give me some hope though, although we don't exactly need another tall defender or swingman

 

[Powerage]

In my opinion he seems too lumbering and uncoordinated to be a reliable defender. You could say that Trengrove is quite awkward movement wise but his height and grunt balance that out for him. The Hoff also seems like a dawdling fool when he's jogging across the field but the glimpses of his elite skills, height and pace prove the doubters wrong. Butcher doesn't seem to be aggressive or assertive enough as a defender to take up responsibility at critical situations or have the capacity to play the swingman role. The way Westhoff turned out does give me some hope though, although we don't exactly need another tall defender or swingman

I agree with some of that. However Butcher is the same height as Trengove. And how he plays as a forward isn't necessarily how he will play as a defender. I haven't seen him paly in that role so perhaps someone can comment on that better than me...

I don't think Westhoff would have better pace. Probably better endurance but Butcher can develop that.

Westhoff will be 30 next year...he won't be around forever. We are good for tall defenders though, although not ultra tall ones. Trengove is out tallest - same height as Butch. I still hold hope for him as a swingman. He loves to run and gets confidence from being involved, and his field kicking is a lot better than his kicking for goal.

 

[El_Scorcho]

You're looking at this the wrong way. What if he actually kicked the winning goal in a final or, wait for it, a grand final? It would be the single greatest moment in PAFC history.

Most importantly, his pack marking ability gives us a much, much greater chance of having that final shot, given that if we're less than a kick down late in a Grand Final we can expect the opposition to somehow have about 26 players in our defensive 50.

If we'd had him earlier in the year we would have dealt a lot better with the hyperdefensive flooding we came up against for weeks on end.

 

[John the Butcher]

Don't forget to vote for the big Butch!
https://markoftheyear.afl.com.au/vote/round/23

 

[Doctor Feel]

He got a little recognition in victoria tonight on triple M vic. They said he does everything so well BESIDES his kicking. It's true, really. Kid has weapons.

 

[JimmyBeerCans]

Butcher's survival on our list isn't just dependent on what Schulz decides to do. There's also Harvey (work-rate) and Shaw (injuries/go home) who are both looking shaky at the moment.

I reckon Harvey is safe he's got project player written all over him, Mason looks in trouble

 

[Lambot]

John Butcher is basically Rufus Smalls.

"Okay Smallsy! Take it son. Yeah you! Go on!"

 

[rignanv]

Was ken asked about butch in his interview today?

 

[Hardcore]

Yep he did and I got the impression that he will be kept on the list but it sounds as though it's either going to be as a rookie or he will need to accept a basic contract, so lots of water to go under the bridge yet.

Let's hope it's gets done

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Buddy has his demons, Butch has his.

 

[raptalia]

I think Butch did enough last Saturday to save his spot on the list but he will probably be offered a 12 month deal or a place on the rookie list. Last Saturday was Butcher's best performance this time around. In fact to the impartial judges among us it was his only real performance. The pity is it wasn't against stronger opposition but there was enough there to suggest Butcher is worth retaining in some form.

 

[Powerstufff]

... Butch ... will probably be offered a 12 month deal or a place on the rookie list .....

I reckon the latter if anything. We've just seen Krakouer offered another year on the rookie list and he's higher up the food chain.

 

[raptalia]

I reckon the latter if anything. We've just seen Krakouer offered another year on the rookie list and he's higher up the food chain.

Probably the case , I am not one of those who think Butcher is something that he is not. If Butcher is rookie listed he could be in brilliant SANFL form but not be selected at AFL level if there is no slot on the list. I wonder if the Club wants that situation after putting so much time into him? I guess a lot will depend on Schulz and Dixon.

 

[stokholme]

Don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but congrats to Butch for winning a mark of the year nom!

https://markoftheyear.afl.com.au/vote/round/23

 

[tryonthis]

Butcher: You're Charlie Dixon.
Dixon: yes
Butcher: you play foward
Dixon: yes
Butcher: I play foward too
Dixon: so?
Butcher: Well, are you better then me?
Dixon: Well, I've never met you, but....yes.

 

[Smartys Power]

Don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but congrats to Butch for winning a mark of the year nom!

https://markoftheyear.afl.com.au/vote/round/23

Yaaaaaaaaasssssss!!!!

 

[Schulzenfest]

Butcher: You're Charlie Dixon.
Dixon: yes
Butcher: you play foward
Dixon: yes
Butcher: I play foward too
Dixon: so?
Butcher: Well, are you better then me?
Dixon: Well, I've never met you, but....yes.

Poor Butch really does cop it from that page

 

[Magpiespower]

Imagine it. Butcher travels over to Melbourne with us as the emergency on our 2016 Grand Final game. He's not expecting to have to go on, and he's hoping he won't. But in the dying minutes of the game, Dixon rolls his ankle as he marks the ball inside 50, after kicking 8 goals. The score is Port 119 - Crows 124. The siren's just blown. Schulz is exhausted, he's badly injured himself and he knows this is his last game. He knows he doesn't have it in him to kick the winner, we need someone with fresh legs.

He motions for Butcher to come on. Kenny nods knowingly in the coaches box. Butcher points towards himself, fear on his face, as if to say 'me?'. He takes the call, walks onto the field to equal parts jeers and applause. The crowd's going wild. On one side the Crows fans are laughing, pointing, yelling out every insult they know lays into Butcher's deepest insecure subconscious. On the other side, the Port fans are chanting "Butcher! *clap clap clap* Butcher! *clap clap clap*".

He takes a deep breath and finally, he runs up and takes the kick. The crowd goes silent. It's the witching hour at the MCG. And the ball goes straight through the two goal posts, the straightest kick the kid's kicked all year. He was facing guaranteed delisting at the end of the season. The crowd erupts. It's pandemonium! Butcher goes blank. He can't believe it. Shock and awe register on his face while his team mates swarm him. They're all crying. Every one of them bawling their eyes out but with the biggest of smiles.

The Port fans flood the ground. They all join in in ravaging the Butch, lifting him above the crowd, throwing him into the air. Kenny simply golf claps in the coaches box, shaking his head in bemusement with that wry smile. The Crows fans are devastated. They'll never recover! And to be undone by the one they derided for so long. The moment is etched into Johnny's mind forever, his anxiety is killed forever. He's immediately resigned. A hungry beast called 'Confidence' awakens within him, and he never kicks a shank again, going on to win the Coleman medal three years in a row afterwards, and kick many a more legendary premiership goals.

Well, we can dream can't we...

Now we're into fan fiction...

#lovethiscrazythread

 

[StrappingTape]

Geez from that the next chapter seems like it should start:

After the game John motions to me as he moves into the showers, I walk in there nervous about what is in store for me. Did he notice my eyes at him during the game? Was it the subtle signals I had been sending his direction after the celebrations in the changerooms from his game winning goal, did he just want someone to soap him up? As I rounded the corner I immediately realise what I'm in for and I start to...