Toast Zak Butters - Stepping out of the shadows

[Schulzenfest]

Butters kicks a goal with himself in AFL Evolution 2 haha

Don't let Chadbro see him playing video games or he'll be off to Hawthorn.

 

[Port85]

I'm happy for Zak to continue to play as a peripheral midfielder, keep him out of the square and ball up setups, but outside of that have him run with the middle players, working over the ground.

One of Butters key strengths this season is pushing up to stoppage on the wing which forces his defender to go with him (or we get an outnumber at the stoppage, which also suits us) creating space in our forward line and over the back of the stoppage itself. He also pushes really hard back to the forward line which is why we often see him in as the link up player in the square delivering into the F50 when we're transitioning really well after winning the clearance.

I'm pretty happy for him to keep doing this rather than a more fixed midfield role as it maximises his strengths.

I think a couple of centre bounce attendances would be good for his development as well, but he doesn't need to play as a wing player (like Farrell or Amon) like I previously thought, unless those players are being well beaten.

 

[La Dispute]

Was there any doubt he'd become a decent player? There's a few post earlier scrutinising his production and ceiling early on in his career, but these aspects can always be worked on and often come with exposure and additional confidence, which realistically Butters has never lacked anyway.

The 2018 draft is panning out to be one of the best of all time, and Port to their benefit had a huge stake in it and all of Rozee, Butters and Duursma are bringing a heap of charisma, energy and exuberance to a lineup that desperately needed a spark. However the next few years pans out, the focus surely has to be keeping those three at the club, as they've all got the potential to become stars of the competition, and as the comp has evened out over the past few years there will be a huge opportunity for a club like Port to come in and go deep in September partly on the back of these 2018 draftees.

Good times ahead for Port fans.

 

[snozulu]

Power's second-best player? I can believe it's Butters, says assistant

Port Adelaide's Zak Butters is having a big impact in his second AFL season

www.afl.com.au

IF VETERAN Travis Boak is Port Adelaide's best player this season, then it might surprise some to say youngster Zak Butters is next in line.


But the numbers, and those within the Power, highlight Butters' impact in his second season at AFL level and his influence on Port's fortunes.

Asked if the assessment to have Butters behind Boak as Port Adelaide's best player this season was fair, forwards assistant coach Nathan Bassett didn't shy away.


Despite games being shortened by 25 per cent in length, Champion Data statistics show Butters has lifted his output in key criteria.


He's averaging more disposals, marks, score involvements and tackles, partly because of an increased presence up the ground and on the wing having improved his running.

When Butters kicks into Port's forward 50, the Power retain the ball 69 per cent of the time (ranked third at the club behind Hamish Hartlett at 80 per cent and Boak at 71 per cent).

the Power retain the ball from 88 per cent of Butters' disposals. This is second at the club behind Ryan Burton at 90 per cent.


this season as his midfield time rises to about 35 per cent of his matches.


The 19-year-old is renowned at the Power for his bland palate and taste in food, but has shown his in-your-face attitude and cheeky personality on the field.

"Zak's biggest change this year is getting to more contests, and when he gets it he's got so much talent. His body is a little bit more AFL ready this year – he looks almost like a 16-year-old now rather than a 12-year-old," he said.


I absolutely love this kid. A true Port player

 

[Tibbs]

Currently Ports 2nd best player!

Power's second-best player? I can believe it's Butters, says assistant
Port Adelaide's Zak Butters is having a big impact in his second AFL season

IF VETERAN Travis Boak is Port Adelaide's best player this season, then it might surprise some to say youngster Zak Butters is next in line. But the numbers, and those within the Power, highlight Butters' impact in his second season at AFL level and his influence on Port's fortunes.

Power's second-best player? I can believe it's Butters, says assistant

Port Adelaide's Zak Butters is having a big impact in his second AFL season

www.afl.com.au

Edit ... beat me to it!

 

[Sleezy]

Currently Ports 2nd best player!

Power's second-best player? I can believe it's Butters, says assistant
Port Adelaide's Zak Butters is having a big impact in his second AFL season

IF VETERAN Travis Boak is Port Adelaide's best player this season, then it might surprise some to say youngster Zak Butters is next in line. But the numbers, and those within the Power, highlight Butters' impact in his second season at AFL level and his influence on Port's fortunes.

Power's second-best player? I can believe it's Butters, says assistant

Port Adelaide's Zak Butters is having a big impact in his second AFL season

www.afl.com.au

Edit ... beat me to it!

Triple snap

 

[snozulu]

Currently Ports 2nd best player!

Power's second-best player? I can believe it's Butters, says assistant
Port Adelaide's Zak Butters is having a big impact in his second AFL season

IF VETERAN Travis Boak is Port Adelaide's best player this season, then it might surprise some to say youngster Zak Butters is next in line. But the numbers, and those within the Power, highlight Butters' impact in his second season at AFL level and his influence on Port's fortunes.

Power's second-best player? I can believe it's Butters, says assistant

Port Adelaide's Zak Butters is having a big impact in his second AFL season

www.afl.com.au

Edit ... beat me to it!

Great minds think alike

 

[DaTBird187]

 

[PAFC_1870]

Look like he tired last season, now he's gone past the other 2 for mine.

Most impressive player this season for mine.

 

[gbear]

Yet another fantastic game by Zak today. Leading the second year players this year.

 

[bluemoon86]

Dude is legit the smartest person in the room. Such good decision making, awareness and disposal for a young bloke.

 

[raptalia]

Dude is legit the smartest person in the room. Such good decision making, awareness and disposal for a young bloke.

The same dude almost ran out between the goal and behind posts today. That would not have been too smart.

That aside Butters is a real star in the making.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

And again Zak Butters players another burster. Match defining goals, match saving marks, fierce tackles. Gets the ball and sizes up the situation around him perfectly. Such a natural footballer and so enthusiastic.

On AA post-match Warren Tredrea said Butters is in the conversation of the best small forwards in the league.

I thought he would never release his hug on Robbie Gray after THE GOAL. For a minute I thought he was going to go all Wayne's World on Robbie.

 

[Tibbs]

Dude is legit the smartest person in the room. Such good decision making, awareness and disposal for a young bloke.

Couple that with his attitude, his mongrel, his tackeling.

That tackle and HtB of his straight after the Walsh mark was as spectacular in how team-lifting it was.

 

[Jack Grange]

You are right. His contested marking is much better than i'd expect from someone as light framed as he is.
He is very strong in the contest and he's proving its no fluke as he is doing it every week

And strong mentality

 

[Ford Fairlane]

There is one player who deserves as much credit for Sunday's win as Robbie Gray commands for the match-winning goal after the siren. This is Zak Butters. It should be well remembered he took the match-saving mark on the goal-line when Carlton made its last play inside-50; that kick would have put Carlton 10 points in front and with the game on its terms.

Butters is more than an excitement trigger in attack; he also is a defensive vice. His tackle to stop Tom Williamson's exit from the Port Adelaide forward-50 in the third term is one of the highlights of an extraordinary match.

In his second year at Port Adelaide and in the AFL, Butters is making that No. 18 jumper a torment for opponents - as it was when David Granger wore it in the SANFL and Kane Cornes for 300 games in the AFL - and part of a new cult following at Alberton.

https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/746269/rucci-s-monday-review-robbie-the-great

 

[Ford Fairlane]

And the legend grows

 

[power09]

He reminds me of Daniel Kerr.

man that's a great call, the mix of skill, attack on the ball and thriving on physical contact.
loved watching Kerr play.

 

[Del165198]

Is the shoulder strapping a concern or just something he grew up doing?

 

[OneGreatClub]

Step nto the limelight Butters

 

[port_adelaide_1870]

Every time he has the ball I feel confident that he is gunna do something, very impressive for a second year player

 

[Del165198]

Step nto the limelight Butters ❤

Did Bailey Smith do anything last night? Butters would be right up there in our bnf count

 

[Us against the rest]

 

[Schulzenfest]

Step nto the limelight Butters ❤

Rozee, Walsh, Smith, Butters, King, King, Rankine, Lukosius, Blakey, Thomas, Duursma. 2018 draft was ridiculously good in hindsight.

Imagine having two top 20 picks and using them on Chayce Jones and Ned McHenry lol

 

[OneGreatClub]

Rozee, Walsh, Smith, Butters, King, King, Rankine, Lukosius, Blakey, Thomas, Duursma. 2018 draft was ridiculously good in hindsight.

Imagine having two top 20 picks and using them on Chayce Jones and Ned McHenry lol

Imagine if Boyd Woodcock turns out to be another one