Walsh v Rozee v Butters v Smith

[BringFevBack2021]

Jeez Walsh, Rozee and Butters are all valid options. You’d take any of the three as your first choice depending on your needs.

You need a Jack of all trades, slot him in and improve your side overnight? Walsh

You need a line breaking, hard mid? Butters

You need a mid with an aerial presence who can kick goals?
Rozee

I can’t split them, all superstars

 

[adammania9]

Butters still top dog

 

[Hippster]

Butters still top dog

Id say Walsh. His consistent effort and run is quite amazing. All these guys minus Smith are top class.
Walsh has just waltzed in after a 2-3 month layoff and had 70 possessions in his first two games. His last 3 games last year won him the player of the finals award.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

17 score involvements from Walsh tonight against arguably the best team in the comp. Incredible.

 

[Some Idiot]

Walsh was unbelievably good today. Might be the best I've seen at coming back from injury, rehabs like a machine.

 

[Hippster]

Walsh was unbelievably good today. Might be the best I've seen at coming back from injury, rehabs like a machine.

It’s almost like he should be called the Walshanator..because ‘he’ll be back’

 

[Schmiddy73]

Interesting if you bump this thread now!
Still so hard to call, Smith was nowhere near the other 3 in last 2-3 years, but just about leading the brownlow ths year imo.
Walsh was the best but injuries have played a big part in his young career over last 2 years.
Rozee probably polled in all 3 port wins and maybe a 1 vote against Collingwood , where port got smacked in r1, but I think Rozee had 35ish

Would be happy with all 4 but if forced to pick, I'm going Butters still, dudes an animal.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Interesting if you bump this thread now!
Still so hard to call, Smith was nowhere near the other 3 in last 2-3 years, but just about leading the brownlow ths year imo.
Walsh was the best but injuries have played a big part in his young career over last 2 years.
Rozee probably polled in all 3 port wins and maybe a 1 vote against Collingwood , where port got smacked in r1, but I think Rozee had 35ish

Would be happy with all 4 but if forced to pick, I'm going Butters still, dudes an animal.

Butters clearly the best of them these days. Walsh's back has seemingly hindered him a fair bit, Smith just coming back from the ACL but looking great. Rozee having a good year and playing a new role which seems to be going well.

 

[Foxman98]

Interesting if you bump this thread now!
Still so hard to call, Smith was nowhere near the other 3 in last 2-3 years, but just about leading the brownlow ths year imo.
Walsh was the best but injuries have played a big part in his young career over last 2 years.
Rozee probably polled in all 3 port wins and maybe a 1 vote against Collingwood , where port got smacked in r1, but I think Rozee had 35ish

Would be happy with all 4 but if forced to pick, I'm going Butters still, dudes an animal.

Butters by the length of the Flemington straight now

Walsh is fine but hasn’t kicked on Bailey gets a lot of the ball but still can’t hit a target to save his life and Rozee now a half back

 

[My Tilly]

Walsh has dropped right away.
Butters is ahead but Smith is beginning to find his best form again. If he starts to hit the scoreboard regularly, he is going to overtake Walsh but probably behind Rozee for the meantime.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Walsh has dropped right away.
Butters is ahead but Smith is beginning to find his best form again. If he starts to hit the scoreboard regularly, he is going to overtake Walsh but probably behind Rozee for the meantime.

Didn't Walsh vs Smith on the weekend and quite comfortably produced the better game? Smiths issue is he still can't kick. Just froths a 50m bomb down the line.

 

[Rash]

Career Wise:

We can all agree on this hopefully, but current form will cause some disagreements no doubt.

Butters- 2x AA, AFLCA MVP, 2x B and F, top 4 in brownlow last 2 years.
Rozee- 2x AA, 1x B and F
Walsh- 1x AA, Rising star, 1x B and F, Best finals player,
Smith- Nil

Form wise

Butters
Smith
Rozee
Walsh

 

[Foxman98]

Walsh has dropped right away.
Butters is ahead but Smith is beginning to find his best form again. If he starts to hit the scoreboard regularly, he is going to overtake Walsh but probably behind Rozee for the meantime.

Smith is going at 59% DE and 6.3 turnovers a game which is the same as his SI what form is he finding

 

[Dazb86]

I don't rate players specifically going by their disposal efficiency.
Dangerfield has an average disposal efficiency but would be one of the top 5 players of his generation.

I like what I'm seeing from Smith after his ACL injury. Doing what he's doing after a long time away, it's speaks volumes of what is to come in the coming years.

Hmmm having watched him for years he is very prone to bursting away with pace and dumping it long to no one. It was my main gripe with him at the Dogs other than last years shenanigans.

 

[Cyclops]

Hmmm having watched him for years he is very prone to bursting away with pace and dumping it long to no one. It was my main gripe with him at the Dogs other than last years shenanigans.

Seems harsh, I like his footy, it's just his personality I struggle with. Probably 4th for his off field stuff as much as anything.

Walsh can be damaging, finally starting to see what the fuss is about.

I like Rozee but like everyone says it's Butters and likely to stay that way.

 

[Jcpdragonx]

shame about walsh's back. clear 4th on this list

 

[STPer18]

Smith putting distance on the pack now.

 

[Flags_In_The_Bag]

Smith has become a horrible footballer.

 

[TheEscapeClub]

..and now we've de-Footscrayed him.

 

[Flags_In_The_Bag]

..and now we've de-Footscrayed him.

Nice try at a deflection

 

[Mr Meow]

Currently (2025 only) it's Butters = or > Smith >> Rozee >> Walsh. Smith hasn't quite hit that Dangerfield point where massive impact outweighs disposal inefficiency, but he's getting there. There's not that much between him and Butters despite their attributes differing.

7.4 score involvements and 0.8 goal assists per game objectively show Smith's providing many scoring opportunities. Walsh's highest over a season is 6.7 (2023 and 2024); 7.0 for Rozee in 2023. Butters is actually down at 6.3 score involvements per game this season but has inferior players on the end of his disposals. Last year he was at 6.9.

 

[Rash]

Currently (2025 only) it's Butters = or > Smith >> Rozee >> Walsh. Smith hasn't quite hit that Dangerfield point where massive impact outweighs disposal inefficiency, but he's getting there. There's not that much between him and Butters despite their attributes differing.

7.4 score involvements and 0.8 goal assists per game objectively show Smith's providing many scoring opportunities. Walsh's highest over a season is 6.7 (2023 and 2024); 7.0 for Rozee in 2023. Butters is actually down at 6.3 score involvements per game this season but has inferior players on the end of his disposals. Last year he was at 6.9.

smith isnt close to butters yet

if he shows he can deliver for 3+ seasons straight like butters has, win something such as a AFLCA MVP (Baz could win one this year, butters could win a second) then he can enter the conversation.

also players who are crappy kicks are always going to have a lower ceiling then someone who is an amazing field kick

You and i are always going to be bias

 

[Mr Meow]

smith isnt close to butters yet

if he shows he can deliver for 3+ seasons straight like butters has, win a AFLCA MVP (Baz could win won this year, butters could win a second) then he can enter the conversation.

also players who are crappy kicks are always going to have a lower ceiling then someone who is an amazing field kick

You and i are always going to be bias

I specifically stated for the 2025 season. It goes without saying that career wise Butters is easily ahead.

We're not talking about ceilings, we're talking about output. 7.4 score involvements and 5+ coaches votes per game demonstrates that Smith's impact has been huge - despite kicking inefficiency.

 

[Cosmicwinduptoy24]

Not sure Butters is all that far ahead.
His finals record is terribly poor. None of the other three midfielders have performed anywhere near as lowly. In fact, you can argue Walsh and Smith have been one of their clubs top performers in September.

This year in particular, it's very difficult to split Butters & Smith. Walsh has regressed considerably while Rozee's move to half back flank has seen his influence on any particular game taper away.

He literally played the finals series last year with broken ribs. You've got NFI

 

[Cosmicwinduptoy24]

He's featured in nine finals matches thus far and been underwhelming.
Only 5 contested possessions per final and an even more average of 2 clearances per final.

He's certainly one of those players who struggles to break a tag. Has no other outlying assets to fall back on if getting tagged. Not an overhead threat, nor a goal scoring weapon.
This is where Rozee and Horne-Francis have the upper hand.

Butters can't break a tag? He gets tagged every week and is on track for another AA season. Its clear you've never actually watched the player you're describing.