Dan Butler - The one that got away

[Deadly Assassin]

No thread about this (surprisingly) but it's still mind blowing as to why Richmond let this guy walk out on their club. 2017 premiership star who reminded his old club today of how good he is.

Neil Balme and co must be spewing.

 

[Supercoach Bargain]

They had a lot of good small forwards, Rioli, Higgins, Bolton, Butler. Couldn't keep 'em all.

 

[DustinsGuns]

Butler was the worst of our small forwards last year which sounds bitter but was true. Always tried don't argues and little soccer kicks and knocks to himself which would never work out.
I always like to watch former tiger players though and he has been sensational this year for the saints. His 2020 performances would easily eclipse any Richmond small forward. I think he is keeping it far simpler this year which is a credit to the saints coaches.

 

[Ricmel]

Wasn't a big wrap on him at Richmond and thought he was steak knives. Been a revelation to me. Don't know if he was always this good or has just come of age but right now he is the recruit that has changed the look of the Saints structure.

 

[markm106]

To be fair Butler was surpassed in 2018/19 by a number of similar players. Hardly surprising he was traded. Now he has gone to a new club and worked hard at his craft and improved. Tigers would be hardly spewing at this.

 

[OhhDeledio]

he was rubbish last year for us. many times he did things that made me want to put my foot through the tv. was like 5th in line for our small forwards so it was fair for him to be moved on. hes been unreal for the saints though, really glad hes playing well.

 

[queensberryrules]

My wife doesn't care who he plays for, as long as he doesn't cut his hair.

 

[juss]

I'll give you the answer.

Butler was pivotal to a new Richmond gameplay in 2017, his tackling and hitting the scoreboard with 30 goals for the year. Part of the crew with Castagna and Rioli that changed the way we played and gave us a flag.

Sometime over 2018 and 2019 however, Butler went Hollywood. His focus changed from doing the hard running at pace, tackling that he was known for, and he become lazy, wanting to get on the end of work rather than force the issue himself, and he wanted the flashy finishing stuff and not to do the hard yards.

Secondly, over 18/19 Richmond had an influx of decent small forwards who could all play that role. Higgins, Edwards, Stengle, Bolton, among others, these guys all started competing for small forward spots. Also, Martin started spending a lot more time forward, and the intro of Lynch meant that there was one less spot for smalls in 2019 as well.

The Tigers were strong over 18/19, and Butler struggled to crack into the side. It's not as if he couldn't crack into a bottom 4 side, the side he couldn't get into won the Grand Final by 89 points.

From that, Butler requested a trade for opportunity to a side he knew needed speed and some personnel change. No difference than what happens every year, and often a change of scenery can do them the world of good and give them the kick up the ass they need. Grigg or Houli anyone?

If he pulled his finger out and went back to working hard, he could always improve and play good footy. Good to see him doing that now. The club has to honour the trade request though when a guy can't get a game, I hope he succeeds.

 

[Cotchins Hair Piece]

He was excess to their needs after they got Marlion Pickett (the guy who played well in the grand final if you hadn’t heard, not sure what he’s doing these days).

 

[HTT]

Didn’t provide us much in 18/19 after a wonderful 2017. Stopped applying the heat and we’ve got a glut of small forwards. Fair enough to him for chasing opportunities elsewhere.
Stoked he’s been able to have a real impact at the saints. Would prefer he’d give his old club a chop out though.

 

[WillHayward]

Was a gun in 2017.

Playing unbelievably well in 2020.

 

[living_in_syd]

Didn’t want to trade him. And when we did I said get something for him which was laughable.

 

[AstuteTiger]

No thread about this (surprisingly) but it's still mind blowing as to why Richmond let this guy walk out on their club. 2017 premiership star who reminded his old club today of how good he is.

Neil Balme and co must be spewing.

Yeah nah if you saw him in 2018 and especially in 2019 you would realise why we let him go.
I'm rapt for him that he has once again pulled his finger out. Playing really well kudos to Butts but i honestly don't think anyone is losing sleep over it.

 

[joop]

Only 4 rounds in but he'd be in the AA team as a small forward at the moment?

 

[Enclosed_Animal]

As a Saints fan it is interesting to read the above. We certainly don't want to get too carried away too soon.

But … 7 goals 5, 3 goal assists & 12 I50 tackles in 4 games (with shortened quarters) is one hell of a return.

Keep that up across 17 games and he will be a walk up start for AA. Long way to go yet of course, but if he keeps doing the hard work (and not the flashy garbage noted above), he might just be the bargain buy of the year

 

[Atomboy]

Only 4 rounds in but he'd be in the AA team as a small forward at the moment?

Nope, Eddie Betts and Dusty got it sewn up.

 

[master bate]

Had some injury issues the last couple of years as well didn't he?

I'm not surprised the Tigers let him go. You can't keep out of contract players who have fallen outside your best 22 and have other offers. Was anyone saying last year that Butler was better than Rioli and Bolton?

The bigger surprise to me was the lack of interest from other clubs. Carlton apparently were keen but then not as much once they committed to Betts. The Saints then were kind of the choice by default, they didn't have to pay much (pick 56) at all.

I would've thought he'd be a cheap Puopolo replacement for the Hawks, the Dogs and Dees both used first round picks on small forwards to fill a need and could've done with a mature option, North don't really have a dangerous crumber unless you count Zurhaar (who can be that but is more versatile and would pair well with a speedy small), Essendon could do with the depth if Orazio is going - which seems to be the case every trade period.

I was surprised there wasn't more of a market to at least drive the trade price up to a better 3rd round pick and I assume to add some dollars and years to Butler's contract. If the Saints have got him on a cheap deal as well they've done very well.

 

[Captain_Bender]

Dan Butler is already one of St Kilda's most successful players in their history

 

[Rocco sifreddi]

Saints got him for a slab , even if he suddenly turns into a s**t truck you have lost nothing
Stopping doing all the things that made him
A gun small forward , good luck to him i hope he has a great career at the saints.

 

[Lsta062]

He was always talented and it wasn’t talent that kept him out of the side. He was just not performing for us. If someone no longer performs at a club, then they may need to go to another club to refresh.

It also shows that our depth was genuinely good in terms of small forward talent over 18/19 unlike what sone people thought.

 

[Verdun]

Dan Butler is already one of St Kilda's most successful players in their history

Long night mate?

 

[Kreuuuzeurns]

Dan Butler is already one of St Kilda's most successful players in their history

He’d be your best small forward by a considerable margin. Richmond got comfortable and were arrogant in shoving him out the door.

 

[The 747]

As Richmond posters have said - can't believe I found a thread with reasonable Richmond supporters posting by the way - they have a lot of players competing for that role and some players need a kick up the arse via moving clubs. But he looked really dynamic yesterday in the F50.

 

[Nostradumbass]

Subbed so I can revisit this at the end of the season when saints fans are questioning why they got him.

 

[PetterdHoisted]

I'll give you the answer.

Butler was pivotal to a new Richmond gameplay in 2017, his tackling and hitting the scoreboard with 30 goals for the year. Part of the crew with Castagna and Rioli that changed the way we played and gave us a flag.

Sometime over 2018 and 2019 however, Butler went Hollywood. His focus changed from doing the hard running at pace, tackling that he was known for, and he become lazy, wanting to get on the end of work rather than force the issue himself, and he wanted the flashy finishing stuff and not to do the hard yards.

Secondly, over 18/19 Richmond had an influx of decent small forwards who could all play that role. Higgins, Edwards, Stengle, Bolton, among others, these guys all started competing for small forward spots. Also, Martin started spending a lot more time forward, and the intro of Lynch meant that there was one less spot for smalls in 2019 as well.

The Tigers were strong over 18/19, and Butler struggled to crack into the side. It's not as if he couldn't crack into a bottom 4 side, the side he couldn't get into won the Grand Final by 89 points.

From that, Butler requested a trade for opportunity to a side he knew needed speed and some personnel change. No difference than what happens every year, and often a change of scenery can do them the world of good and give them the kick up the ass they need. Grigg or Houli anyone?

If he pulled his finger out and went back to working hard, he could always improve and play good footy. Good to see him doing that now. The club has to honour the trade request though when a guy can't get a game, I hope he succeeds.

Perfect summary, I remember him doing an brainfart act that left the door open for the Hawks in early 2018 that nearly cost us 4 points, and more of the same crept in from then on, people don't react mentally to success in predictable ways.

but we can never forget that he and Castagna particularly were virtual unknowns in early '17 when they had an entire team gameplan rested on their shoulders (with Rioli), and were then central to the most improbable premiership in living memory.

He kicked the clincher in the '17 prelim against the Giants, for me the toughest single team I can remember taking the field against our club.

Then his classy check-side finished the '17 GF and made Gale, and many of us, cry tears of joy.

This bloke is in our pantheon, ultimate respect, so happy he has turned things around at the Saints, just really wonder why Carlton weren't in for him. Yet another cost of the SOS chaos?