John Butcher

[e25 5]

Attitude concerns? Did anyone actually read the entire article?

If a kid is asked about teams possibly tanking so they can pick him up, what would you be happy with as an answer?

"yeah, cool, so they should. Cos I will be the best player the club has ever had, they should be throwing games to get me." - ???

What sort of attitude do you want any player that comes to your club to have? I'd hope it would be one where losing games was unacceptable by any standard, let alone losing on purpose.

What kid in their right mind would want to be placed in a club with that sort of culture??

The kid was asked a direct question and gave the correct answer without being specific about clubs. He has in no way refused to come to MFC or big-noted himself.

Lay off and stop forensically analysing every word that comes out of a 17 year-old's mouth.

[Adam The God 30,126]

Attitude concerns? Did anyone actually read the entire article?

If a kid is asked about teams possibly tanking so they can pick him up, what would you be happy with as an answer?

"yeah, cool, so they should. Cos I will be the best player the club has ever had, they should be throwing games to get me." - ???

What sort of attitude do you want any player that comes to your club to have? I'd hope it would be one where losing games was unacceptable by any standard, let alone losing on purpose.

What kid in their right mind would want to be placed in a club with that sort of culture??

The kid was asked a direct question and gave the correct answer without being specific about clubs. He has in no way refused to come to MFC or big-noted himself.

Lay off and stop forensically analysing every word that comes out of a 17 year-old's mouth.

I did acknowledge that it was more than likely the journo placed him in a situation and made him sound a certain way to sell a paper. Particuarly, as it was a tabloid like the Sun.

[Freak 100]

i think the answer jack watts would have provided would have been 'look at this moment in time i'm just trying to do my bit for Vic metro. I think all the 22 players that take the field in the final rounds of the season would attest to the fact that they are busting their gut for the pride of the jumper'. Nice professional answer

[e25 5]

i think the answer jack watts would have provided would have been 'look at this moment in time i'm just trying to do my bit for Vic metro. I think all the 22 players that take the field in the final rounds of the season would attest to the fact that they are busting their gut for the pride of the jumper'. Nice professional answer

I think you're speculating and we can't expect every 17-year-old to be as polished a public speaker as one Jack Watts.

My point is that Butcher was hardly adamant that he would refuse to come to MFC if he suspected them of tanking.

He merely gave the impression that to him losing on purpose was not an acceptable practice by any club, and I'd be more worried if he didn't take that stance.

[Carn dees 108]

Or a simple id just be happy to be drafted?

[Adam The God 30,126]

Or a simple id just be happy to be drafted?

Perhaps, but I think Enforcer is right. Not everyone at the age of 17 is accomplished enough to coup with media committments like Watts was, at the same age.

That said, if you read the difference between the Butcher article and the Scully article in The Age, on the same day, there is a clear attitude difference. Scully presents himself beautifully and seems like a nice kid, but again perhaps Butcher lacks the media skills at this stage?

[Jarka 767]

We will end up in one of these draft pick scenarios and this is what we should do if faced with each one:

*Finish last winning 4 games or less

1 & 2 = Scully & Butcher

*Finish 15th winning 4 games or less

1 & 3 = Butcher & Christensen (Geelong Falcons)

*Finish last winning more then 4 games

1 = Scully

*Finish 15th winning more then 4 games

2 = Butcher

Still very early to tell but don't forget Lucas and Morabito, I can't see Scully sliding past the first pick but the next 4 after that is definitely open, at this stage it appears to be between Butcher, Lucas, Morabito & Christensen. But as we know players can come from no where during the u/18's.

One thing is for certain, a pp would be very, very handy.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,023]

We will end up in one of these draft pick scenarios and this is what we should do if faced with each one:

*Finish last winning 4 games or less

1 & 2 = Scully & Butcher

*Finish 15th winning 4 games or less

1 & 3 = Butcher & Christensen (Geelong Falcons)

*Finish last winning more then 4 games

1 = Scully

*Finish 15th winning more then 4 games

2 = Butcher

You don't think Scully is worth first pick in this scenario?

[Bruce Almighty 0]

i dont mind arrogant players, i think in footy at this elite level you have to have some sort of self confidence/arrogance. At the same time i think you can be arrogant without being a [censored] head.

on another note i hear there was a tall forward for wa that played really well in the first game of the carnival, cant remember his name

[Ryan Dee 140]

what Butcher said about not wanting to be drafted by a 'tanking' club was shocking. To big for his boots already.

[MadAsHell 4,212]

You don't think Scully is worth first pick in this scenario?

Don't get me wrong I think Scully probably is the best player in the draft. However according to the latest media it sounds as though Butcher is closing the gap. If we got picks 1 & 3 and we drafted Butcher first then we'd still end up with a quality tall forward and quality midfielder. Otherwise if we drafted Scully at 1 we'd just end up with two quality midfielders (as Butcher would go at 2). Sounds as though there's day light after Butcher and the next best tall forward or ruckman which are areas we're lacking.

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Attitude concerns? Did anyone actually read the entire article?

If a kid is asked about teams possibly tanking so they can pick him up, what would you be happy with as an answer?

"yeah, cool, so they should. Cos I will be the best player the club has ever had, they should be throwing games to get me." - ???

What sort of attitude do you want any player that comes to your club to have? I'd hope it would be one where losing games was unacceptable by any standard, let alone losing on purpose.

What kid in their right mind would want to be placed in a club with that sort of culture??

The kid was asked a direct question and gave the correct answer without being specific about clubs. He has in no way refused to come to MFC or big-noted himself.

Lay off and stop forensically analysing every word that comes out of a 17 year-old's mouth.

It's more about what his Vic Country coach said about him that concerned me. He talked about how his body language can be a problem and he's an odd sort of fellow. However I still do hope he does get drafted to us at pick 2 right after Scully.

[Lord Travis 10,696]

Scully is pick 1. The kid is a freak. Not only does he have immense talent, he is a hardworking smart young man.

My view is our biggest needs are another key forward and a gun mid. BUT, if we only have one pick at the top, we take Scully. He's simply the best. If we have two picks then Scully and Butcher is fine and dandy :D But Scully is pick 1 regardless. He is too good to pass up.

[Adam The God 30,126]

Completely agree, Lord Travis.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Scully has too many attributes to ignore. Especially in the "Seasonal" world of drafting... eg everyone wants to recruit good kicks because the Hawks won a flag recruiting like that. Likewise apparently no-one wanted small aboriginal players because Leon Davis didn't get a kick in a GF one year. (that year we got Davey.. but only just).

The longer I go the more I think not only does Scully demand pick one just going on his skillset, but he is actually a long way ahead of the other players, regardless of type, height, designation etc etc...

So I reckon, should everything sit up nicely, pick 2 will be the real interesting one for us in a couple of months.