KPFs who can't kick

[pringle 42]

With some talk about Butcher's potentially flawed kicking style causing him to slide down the draft pecking order, I have spent more than a few of my precious moments considering his potential worth.

Over the years there have been plenty of good KPF's who were not great shots for goal but crafted handy careers. Nick Holland, Jade Rawlings, Earl Spalding, Paul Salmon, Robbo (in his early years), Richo, Darren Bennett, even Sticks Kernahan etc. The list goes on. There have also been numerous ruckmen who couldn't kick to save themselves rotate through forward lines and kick decent bags.

I'm still as yet undecided, but playing on my mind is the fact that these types are becoming fewer and fewer with the change in playing style in the modern game. In fact, tall forwards as a breed are dwindling in number (though not value in my opinion).

Anyway, the closest I have come to an opinion (not set in stone yet) is that I'd be willing to draft Butcher or another KPF if they can at least kick a long ball. For m distance is the key, and it stems from watching Brad Miller play for the past whatever years.

Miller gives me the absolute irrits at times, but not because he can't slot them from 30m consistently (though that would be nice), more because any further than 40m and you just know he won't even make the distance. That is not good enough for a KPF. The days of a Plugger type plonking themselves in the square are long gone, and with modern zones, a large amount of set shots are from 45m+. If Butcher can kick 55m+, is the best available KPF available at 11 (or 18) AND can kick a long ball, I would probably take him (assuming we take 2 or 3 mids) first. Considering we're likely to take Scully and Trengove with 1 & 2...

[Footynut 302]

With some talk about Butcher's potentially flawed kicking style causing him to slide down the draft pecking order, I have spent more than a few of my precious moments considering his potential worth.

Over the years there have been plenty of good KPF's who were not great shots for goal but crafted handy careers. Nick Holland, Jade Rawlings, Earl Spalding, Paul Salmon, Robbo (in his early years), Richo, Darren Bennett, even Sticks Kernahan etc. The list goes on. There have also been numerous ruckmen who couldn't kick to save themselves rotate through forward lines and kick decent bags.

I'm still as yet undecided, but playing on my mind is the fact that these types are becoming fewer and fewer with the change in playing style in the modern game. In fact, tall forwards as a breed are dwindling in number (though not value in my opinion).

Anyway, the closest I have come to an opinion (not set in stone yet) is that I'd be willing to draft Butcher or another KPF if they can at least kick a long ball. For m distance is the key, and it stems from watching Brad Miller play for the past whatever years.

Miller gives me the absolute irrits at times, but not because he can't slot them from 30m consistently (though that would be nice), more because any further than 40m and you just know he won't even make the distance. That is not good enough for a KPF. The days of a Plugger type plonking themselves in the square are long gone, and with modern zones, a large amount of set shots are from 45m+. If Butcher can kick 55m+, is the best available KPF available at 11 (or 18) AND can kick a long ball, I would probably take him (assuming we take 2 or 3 mids) first. Considering we're likely to take Scully and Trengove with 1 & 2...

I hear you but I would say if he is there at Pick 11 we swoop...

I think the kicking thing is a bit of hype and I hope all other clubs buy into it and let him through.

Look at his 2008 TAC cup he was a top performer at the under age level. This year he took 2-3 zone defenders on him.

If we got Watts, Butcher, Jurrah and possibly another couple such as Green in and Wona in there is going to be very hard for teams to play 2 players on all of them.

This article suggests he is not as bad at kicking as everyone says and still has significant upside in his body and style of kicking. I think we take the chance - at 197cm and put on some body there aint going to be many defenders who can beat him one on one years to come.

http://www.afldraftinfo.com/2009/10/john-b...ic-country.html

[Trisul 664]

Was a little surprised to see you put Bennett in with the others pringle, but maybe that's time and rose coloured glasses on my side.

Butcher still seems to rate with the people in the know. I'm unsure but prepared to trust in our FD.

Am still a little iffy about using 11 on him though.

[The Big Ticket 94]

Was a little surprised to see you put Bennett in with the others pringle, but maybe that's time and rose coloured glasses on my side.

Butcher still seems to rate with the people in the know. I'm unsure but prepared to trust in our FD.

Am still a little iffy about using 11 on him though.

I wouldn't be, I'd take him in a heartbeat if he slid to 11. Remember he was once touted as a top 3 pick?

[Footynut 302]

I wouldn't be, I'd take him in a heartbeat if he slid to 11. Remember he was once touted as a top 3 pick?

Agreed Battler B how anyone could say they wouldnt take him at 11 when he is exactly what we need to straighten us up and take the pressure off Watts.

He is quality and in any case will create a strong contest to bring ball to ground for our crumbers!

[Trisul 664]

Remember he was once touted as a top 3 pick?

That's my (MY) problem.

[Trengove 0]

I would take him as well;

Robbo and Roughead once were both ordinary kicks on goal, Roughie couldnt kick to save him self at the start of his career. Even Riewoldt kicked a lot better this year than previously; Goal kicking is a technique that given a few years players have every opportunity to improve significantly on.

Butcher might butcher it at the moment, but give him 3 or 4 years and he might be at least a reasonable shot on goal.

[pringle 42]

Was a little surprised to see you put Bennett in with the others pringle, but maybe that's time and rose coloured glasses on my side.

Butcher still seems to rate with the people in the know. I'm unsure but prepared to trust in our FD.

Am still a little iffy about using 11 on him though.

You're right. He wasn't so bad from 45+. But I remember I used to say every time he had a shot in unison with my brother, "distance no problem, accuracy is..."

[Sir Why You Little 37,127]

You're right. He wasn't so bad from 45+. But I remember I used to say every time he had a shot in unison with my brother, "distance no problem, accuracy is..."

Darren Bennett was Great, he just lost his Mojo when Allen Jakovich took his job.

Bennett was a mighty kick.

[Trisul 664]

You're right. He wasn't so bad from 45+. But I remember I used to say every time he had a shot in unison with my brother, "distance no problem, accuracy is..."

Sorry to digress again but, gee you brought a memory and smile to my face.

Every time some non MFC buffoon thought they'd be a smartie and bag Bennett for lining up from 55-65m ...

I'd quote the exact same line as you and your bro.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

The reason people are on Butcher's back is because it's basically like recruiting Cloke... And that's a best case scenario.

I take a more realistic view. I reckon if you think you can recruit, for every position, the best player in the league, you're kidding yourself. I would think that if you had the best 18 players, position for position, that your salary cap would be about 6 million over...

In other words... If we Recruited Jack Watts, plus another Jack Watts... and both became superstars, you would have to pay them accordingly. Giving them the biggest wages would mean that other players who may be equally deserving, would need to take a pay cut. So if we had the two most brilliant up and coming KP forwards, we probably wouldn't be able to afford to keep a Trengove.

There's always a Bradshaw for every Brown, a Kosi for every Reiwoldt, A Roughead to every Buddy... I'm ok with taking the NEXT BEST KP forward. You can't have everything after all...

Besides. Trengove and Scully will make him look like Lloyd reincarnated.

[Trengove 0]

The reason people are on Butcher's back is because it's basically like recruiting Cloke... And that's a best case scenario.

I take a more realistic view. I reckon if you think you can recruit, for every position, the best player in the league, you're kidding yourself. I would think that if you had the best 18 players, position for position, that your salary cap would be about 6 million over...

In other words... If we Recruited Jack Watts, plus another Jack Watts... and both became superstars, you would have to pay them accordingly. Giving them the biggest wages would mean that other players who may be equally deserving, would need to take a pay cut. So if we had the two most brilliant up and coming KP forwards, we probably wouldn't be able to afford to keep a Trengove.

There's always a Bradshaw for every Brown, a Kosi for every Reiwoldt, A Roughead to every Buddy... I'm ok with taking the NEXT BEST KP forward. You can't have everything after all...

Besides. Trengove and Scully will make him look like Lloyd reincarnated.

So make him look like a cheating velvet sledge hammer whose only trick is to dive for free kicks and snipe players behind play? gosh i hope not.

[Old Gregg 1]

So make him look like a cheating velvet sledge hammer whose only trick is to dive for free kicks and snipe players behind play? gosh i hope not.

Very harsh. He's a great bloke and he kicked 900 goals.

[Carn dees 108]

Lol, if Butcher turned out to be half the forward Lloyd was theyd be laughing.

[Footynut 302]

So make him look like a cheating velvet sledge hammer whose only trick is to dive for free kicks and snipe players behind play? gosh i hope not.

Trenners maybe you are being a bit fatalistic?

How do doggies keep Johnson, Hall, Aker, Gilbee, Cooney, Griffen, Higgins, Lake etc etc?

How did Brisbane keep them all together during premiership years?

How do Geelong keep them all?

Most good players stay at clubs if the club is successful and has the right leaders and spirit.

We need to aim to nail those and we should trying to keep as many good players as we can regardless...

[Demon trucker 1,800]

So make him look like a cheating velvet sledge hammer whose only trick is to dive for free kicks and snipe players behind play? gosh i hope not.

mate you dont kick 900 gaols if yiou only had dive to kick your gaol, if he could be half as good as the velvet sledge hammer, then we have a player