Butler's Stats 2024

[WellardSaint]

16 games this year
13 goals

A far cry from 2020 when he finished 2nd in BnF to Steele, and kicked 29 goals, and 9 games of 12+ disposals.

I see why he was offered a 1 year extension...
AFL tables shows that in 2024, he had very low disposals.
In fact, in a lot of his games, half of his disposals were clangers.
Total of 41 clangers out of 131 disposals.

He's 28 y.o.

In 2016, he played the whole year in the VFL and in a mid-season meeting, was told he wouldn't get a contract for the following year unless there was 'a vast improvement in effort and output' (wikipedia citing a journo's article).

In 2017, he played out of his skin, playing most senior games except for 2 due to minor groin injury. Played in the GF as well.

He needs Harvey to give him a kick up the Khyber.
Just like 2016.

Tony74, you might be able to shed some light here

[spert]

We need our small forwards to hit the scoreboard consistently through a season, and although Higgins did his job reasonably well, we probably needed more from Dan. I thought we should be chasing a mobile, marking half forward in our recruitment drive, even though we need good mids badly. Hope Dan has a big pre-season.

[B.M]

Wouldn’t Owens be a mobile marking forward?

Sharman also

[SaintPav]

Harsh.

Missed most of preseason due to having ankle surgery.

Got going towards the end of the year.

Unlucky to not help us get picks 5 and 6 in the last game of the season after a few questionable efforts.

[WellardSaint]

Does Dan get pushed out by Liam Henry and Garcia?

or do they play different roles.

Dan, at his age and lack of impact, will play Zebs unless there's injuries.
Ross lost patience with Bonner and Dan will be let go at end of 2025 unless some miracle occurs

[Yorkeys]

Does Dan get pushed out by Liam Henry and Garcia?

or do they play different roles.

Dan, at his age and lack of impact, will play Zebs unless there's injuries.
Ross lost patience with Bonner and Dan will be let go at end of 2025 unless some miracle occurs

Dan needs more party tricks, his old ones are well known and countered. Also he needs to work on the distance of his kicks or learn to handball 40 metres.

[cwrcyn]

Off season surgery, then follow up surgery early in the season. it's almost impossible to reach peak fitness after that.

To me, he's super important. Never fumbles, a great shot at goal, and provides elite forward pressure. The club had no hesitation in extending his contract.

I'm a big fan.

[WellardSaint]

Off season surgery, then follow up surgery early in the season. it's almost impossible to reach peak fitness after that.

To me, he's super important. Never fumbles, a great shot at goal, and provides elite forward pressure. The club had no hesitation in extending his contract.

I'm a big fan.

The fitness staff know more about him than you do, with all due respect.
I reckon a guy called David Misson might trump you for knowledge.

Buts was subbed off in Rd 6 IIRC, after 46% TOG.
He was subbed on in Rd 7 (27% TOG)
Might have been injured (ankle?) in that game, 3 handballs, no kicks, and was out till Rd 13, WCE game, where he was subbed on for 22% TOG.
Then we had the midseason bye about 3 games later, and as a young 27 yr old, 2 weeks is long enough to regain fitness.

I refute the idea that he needs more new tricks.
They're funny things you do after training when you're cooling down.
He needs to get back to basics and focus on 'see ball, get ball' as Joey Montagna says (and others) and
he'll possibly regain the form that will keep him best 22.

Otherwise, he'll be playing Zebs after the young Garcia, Collard, etc outperform him on track and during preseason.
And he won't get back in.

[Otiman]

Struggles to play both ways so ends up being a bit too defensive. Needs to learn the balance and get out the back a little more.

If he does, will kick 30+ next year and win a few games off his own boot.

[cwrcyn]

Thanks Wellard Saint. I'm not sure what you're getting at, though. I never intimated that I knew more than the fitness staff.

Irrespective, I have confidence in Dan Butler. Surely a two year contract extension indicates the coach does, too.

[Big Max]

Off season surgery, then follow up surgery early in the season. it's almost impossible to reach peak fitness after that.

To me, he's super important. Never fumbles, a great shot at goal, and provides elite forward pressure. The club had no hesitation in extending his contract.

I'm a big fan.

The fitness staff know more about him than you do, with all due respect.
I reckon a guy called David Misson might trump you for knowledge.

Buts was subbed off in Rd 6 IIRC, after 46% TOG.
He was subbed on in Rd 7 (27% TOG)
Might have been injured (ankle?) in that game, 3 handballs, no kicks, and was out till Rd 13, WCE game, where he was subbed on for 22% TOG.
Then we had the midseason bye about 3 games later, and as a young 27 yr old, 2 weeks is long enough to regain fitness.

I refute the idea that he needs more new tricks.
They're funny things you do after training when you're cooling down.
He needs to get back to basics and focus on 'see ball, get ball' as Joey Montagna says (and others) and
he'll possibly regain the form that will keep him best 22.

Otherwise, he'll be playing Zebs after the young Garcia, Collard, etc outperform him on track and during preseason.
And he won't get back in.

I've been quite disappointed in what I've seen from Collard so far, he'll need to show a lot of improvement to oust Butler. And Butler would struggle to get a game at a lot of clubs.

[WellardSaint]

Responding to Big Max

I agree about Collard.
Wasn't he banned for 8 wks for 'homophobic' comments.
I used his name purely as an example of a youngster who may usurp Butler's spot.

Also, agree on Butler not getting a game at most clubs.
Based on 2024 numbers, I'd be stunned if he gets picked for Rd 1 next year. He won't even be an emergency.
Not unless he finds some magic

[B.M]

He provides good forward pressure - unlike Higgins

But tries to be too cute with ball in hand

He’s an ok B Grade small forward
Like Owies or Shultz

[mr six o'clock]

Needs Blakey on his tail .

[Jonathan Strange]

Needs Blakey on his tail .

We need more On The Buses references!

[spert]

Responding to Big Max

I agree about Collard.
Wasn't he banned for 8 wks for 'homophobic' comments.
I used his name purely as an example of a youngster who may usurp Butler's spot.

Also, agree on Butler not getting a game at most clubs.
Based on 2024 numbers, I'd be stunned if he gets picked for Rd 1 next year. He won't even be an emergency.
Not unless he finds some magic

I hope Dan comes back firing next season, but I reckon our coach/ forward coach just didn't utilise our small forwards very well this season and they were often playing too close in, or not in the best position when the ball was coming in.

[WellardSaint]

I'm at a loss to understand how we could lose to the Injectors early in the season, yet pummel them next time.

And give up a big lead to Swans and Cats, then somehow play the opposite in the 2nd half.

And get smashed by Lions. Demoralised even.

The defence is widely feted as pretty damn good, of Lexus or Bentley quality, so that's not the issue.

Midfield is like a Chinese-built MG or Chery (apologies to one of the sponsors)

Fwd line is like a 1970s Alfa Romeo.
When it's working, it can be thrilling.
But far too often, it's waiting for a tow truck.

Butler has a 2 yr extension, purely based on his runner-up in 2020 BnF.
If Ross ignored his last 2 yrs, he'd be following Skunk in 'exploring his options'.

Needs a good woman to give him stability and calmness

[SteeleSaints]

Jacob Konstanty from the Swans is looking around I wonder if he would be worth grabbing?

[repta]

He played almost a defensive role spending much of the time outside the forward arc. Yes listed as attack but rarely close enough to get goals. But saying that
His output is way down. He either needs to improve or get used to his Zebra team mates.