Player Watch Welcome to Hawthorn: Pick 23, Sam Butler

[PenAndPaper]

Kingy is a fan. Kid was rated top 15 in some mock drafts.

Oh god no, he's going to be a dud now

 

[madhawksfan]

Welcome to the Hawks, Sam! Always good to add speed, toughness and versatility to the list.

Hopefully he can have an impact early.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Fooken love this pick.

 

[CHUBBSS]

How good did he speak in his interview, building a really dynamic engine room now

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Very clean off the deck, quick and tenacious. Does Mitchell see him as a midfielder in the future?

He really has traits we can use deep forward, on the HFF or in the middle.

I hope he shadows Wingard all pre-season.

 

[Slysh]

Very clean off the deck, quick and tenacious. Does Mitchell see him as a midfielder in the future?

He really has traits we can use deep forward, on the HFF or in the middle.

I hope he shadows Wingard all pre-season.

I think he splits his time mid/fwd long term.

Genuine threat in both areas of the ground, can chuck him on ball when we need to shift the momentum and same forward when we need a spark.

 

[Pessimistic]

Wait, I thought we all laughed at Kingy?

we laugh with him really he’s good value

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[kirbatron]

Likened to butters.

Bloody exciting.

 

[The Chad and I]

I really like this pick.
Butler seems a very confident and persistent fella.
Loves a tackle and is very quick off the mark.

Gonna be fun with him, Brockman, Seamus and Saunders.

 

[JaegarTime]

Very very happy with this pick. Extremely excited to see what he can do.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Oh god no, he's going to be a dud now

Even a broken clock is right twice a day

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Who do we all compare him to? (current or past i dont mind).

 

[CHUBBSS]

A touch of Butters about this Butler, the super-athletic Cannon

Cal Twomey and Nat Edwards discuss the top draft prospects in this year's pool

www.afl.com.au

A video from the draft oracle earlier in the year, this is a bloody exciting player. He sounds like such an explosive player, could we play him like a modern day Dane Swan

Dane Swan

Age

40

Ht

185cm

Wt

93kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

26.9

5star

K

16.4

5star

HB

10.4

5star

M

5.9

5star

T

3.1

5star

CL

5.4

5star

No current season stats available

D

12.0

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

5.0

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

?

The younger brother of St Kilda forward and 2017 Richmond premiership player Dan claimed the best 20-metre sprint time with a run of 2.97 seconds, was second in the standing vertical jump test (71cm) and second in the running vertical jump (87cm).

 

[ralphwiggum]

Absolutely stoked with this pick… wss seriously hoping we'd get him more than Sonsie

hopefully he develops into a better version of what we had hoped Ollie would one day become

 

[TylerDurden]

Great pick.
Didnt realise he is 189cm either.

 

[threesixpio]

Really enjoying his highlights. Looks like he has a lot of confidence and composure and that he really enjoys his footy. Loved his interview. There was cheek and a casual confidence. Could be a fan favourite

 

[burger09]

Speed , skill and tackles. Yes please.

 

[Brishawk]

Who do we all compare him to? (current or past i dont mind).

Dan butler with more scope to play through the midfield

 

[Sixpence]

Dan butler with more scope to play through the midfield

Dan Butler but shows up in more than 3 games a year?

 

[Brant]

Who do we all compare him to? (current or past i dont mind).

As I said earlier in the thread, he reminds me of a faster Paul Medhurst.

 

[Coathanger]

Absolutely stoked with this pick… wss seriously hoping we'd get him more than Sonsie

hopefully he develops into a better version of what we had hoped Ollie would one day become

Is that you Tom Morris?

 

[MinerBoy]

Looks like a great get in an area we need more talent.

Sam Butler

central.rookieme.com

POSITION: Medium Forward/Midfielder

SNAPSHOT: "A clean and clever utility who can play through the midfield or up forward, Butler is damaging around goals with some elite acceleration, and the defensive traits to match his offensive output."

Sam Butler is a midfielder/forward out of the Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels and the brother of St Kilda forward, Dan. The crafty talent is really impressive both ways, able to win the ball offensively, and also defensively, to be the complete package from that sense. Gifted with blistering acceleration, the areas of improvement include backing himself to take the game on more - not just giving off the quick handball - and gaining greater consistency by foot going forward.

STRENGTHS:
+ Clean hands
+ Acceleration
+ Forward craft
+ Defensive work
+ Athleticism

IMPROVEMENTS:
- Kicking consistency
- Decision making

Butler is an eye-catching player, with some of the quickest wheels going around. Early in the season, the 184cm talent was stationed forward, and able to not only hit the scoreboard, but set up his teammates with his dash and creativity inside 50. He then moved into a part-time midfield role to match his forward time, and began to win the ball through the middle while still hitting the scoreboard. As a full-time midfielder, Butler was able to adapt to the stoppages and win the ball in close and get it out through clearances, though his field kicking consistency let him down at times.

In many ways, Butler is a catch 22, because he often puts more pressure on himself then he needs considering his ability to burst away from opponents. If he took the extra few steps, he would be able to compose himself and make a better decision, but in saying that, his lightning quick hands allow him to release teammates in close. His hands are as clean as anyone's, and his ability to win the ball, dish it off and then go for the receive is fantastic. That, coupled with the fact he does the hard, defensive running as well, means he has an all-round game.

Once Butler backs himself more through confidence, he will be able to steady more and use the ball in more impactful ways going forward. He can hit the scoreboard, he can burst away, and he can tackle. As a forward - which is where he will start at AFL level - Butler has the mix of defensive and offensive traits that will keep a coach happy. As a midfielder, his hands in close allow his teammates to be better, and his speed from the stoppage provides him with a weapon very few have. If he really harnesses that and irons out his kicking - likely through composure more so than execution - then watch out.

DRAFT RANGE: 15-30

SUMMARY:
Sam Butler is a forward/midfielder with a difference. He can play inside or outside, high or deep forward, and his traits lend themselves to any role he is given. Unlike many small forwards who hit the scoreboard regularly, Butler is not afraid to work hard and apply himself to contests he might never get a stat for, doing the team thing. As a whole, Butler looms as a value pick, likely in the second round, as it is more of making a few tweaks to the way he goes about it, rather than wholesale changes.

This summary sounds awesome. Excited by this selection.

 

[Rowie6]

Is he solid with his aerial skills?


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Gunston19]

very very happy with this kid.