Way back in early 2009 the two hottest young prospects were Tom Scully from the Dandenong Stingrays and John Butcher of the Gippsland Power. Scully's star rose throughout the season and he was easily #1 pick at the  national draft but Butcher's season was hot and cold and he drifted out to #8 where he was taken by Port Adelaide.

Butcher made his debut at the weekend and was probably his team's only highlight but, like Scully, the kid's out of contract at year's end. And he's a 197cm key position forward!

Now, normally I would say that players such as Butcher would be out of bounds for ethical reasons but if there's one lesson to be learned from this year, it's that any out of contract player is open slather. Butcher is a Maffra boy and we're a club that's reaching out to the Gippsland region via it's association with the Casey Scorpions. 

The point that I'm making is that it's time for the club to strike back. Others have been making approaches to our players. Scully, Sylvia. Martin and Gawn have been targets of other clubs. Now's the time for us to get on the front foot. 

Let's bring John Butcher back home!

Way back in early 2009 the two hottest young prospects were Tom Scully from the Dandenong Stingrays and John Butcher of the Gippsland Power. Scully's star rose throughout the season and he was easily #1 pick at the national draft but Butcher's season was hot and cold and he drifted out to #8 where he was taken by Port Adelaide.

Butcher made his debut at the weekend and was probably his team's only highlight but, like Scully, the kid's out of contract at year's end. And he's a 197cm key position forward!

Now, normally I would say that players such as Butcher would be out of bounds for ethical reasons but if there's one lesson to be learned from this year, it's that any out of contract player is open slather. Butcher is a Maffra boy and we're a club that's reaching out to the Gippsland region via it's association with the Casey Scorpions.

The point that I'm making is that it's time for the club to strike back. Others have been making approaches to our players. Scully, Sylvia. Martin and Gawn have been targets of other clubs. Now's the time for us to get on the front foot.

Let's bring John Butcher back home!

Let's see him do something first.

I agree i was very keen on him in 09, has battled with injury but showed alot of class on the weekend in an poor side. Get him now while he is cheap. Imagine the forward line...

Aussie Jack Liam

Butcher Cook Petterd

sound good to me.

I agree i was very keen on him in 09, has battled with injury but showed alot of class on the weekend in an poor side. Get him now while he is cheap. Imagine the forward line...

Aussie Jack Liam

Butcher Cook Petterd

sound good to me.

You left out Jeremy Howe

I went to school with Butch and have played with him, he is a very athletic footballer. From what I heard he was nervous at the draft combine and his kicking skills were not the best with is why he slipped to 7/8. He moves well and is a good marking target. The negatives about him are his goal kicking which is sometimes terrible and his back which he has had alot of problems with from playing football as a junior ruckman

Way back in early 2009 the two hottest young prospects were Tom Scully from the Dandenong Stingrays and John Butcher of the Gippsland Power. Scully's star rose throughout the season and he was easily #1 pick at the national draft but Butcher's season was hot and cold and he drifted out to #8 where he was taken by Port Adelaide.

Butcher made his debut at the weekend and was probably his team's only highlight but, like Scully, the kid's out of contract at year's end. And he's a 197cm key position forward!

Now, normally I would say that players such as Butcher would be out of bounds for ethical reasons but if there's one lesson to be learned from this year, it's that any out of contract player is open slather. Butcher is a Maffra boy and we're a club that's reaching out to the Gippsland region via it's association with the Casey Scorpions.

The point that I'm making is that it's time for the club to strike back. Others have been making approaches to our players. Scully, Sylvia. Martin and Gawn have been targets of other clubs. Now's the time for us to get on the front foot.

Let's bring John Butcher back home!

If Butcher is Port's only highlight, why would a team finishing on the bottom of the ladder let him go?

Edited August 16, 201113 yr by howlongtowait

He still can't kick.

I went to school with Butch and have played with him, he is a very athletic footballer. From what I heard he was nervous at the draft combine and his kicking skills were not the best with is why he slipped to 7/8. He moves well and is a good marking target. The negatives about him are his goal kicking which is sometimes terrible and his back which he has had alot of problems with from playing football as a junior ruckman

I heard he has a back problem and that's why it's taken so long to get him on the park He also made a statement prior to the draft that he didn't want to go to a club that tanked to get him; I think he was referring to Melbourne.

Well he didn't go to Melbourne and it's not because of what he said it was because he wasn't good enough.

Port are going to ask for all the tea in China for Butcher. Not sure us giving up all out tea for a player with one good game under his belt is the best idea.

If we can trade based on current value, I would be keen.

Hmmm. A fwd that can't kick or get a game at Port.

Got any more suggestions?

The fact is that we also have players on our list who we perceive to be NQR so a trade might just prove to be a win - win.

On top of that, there have been knocks on players for various reasons that have led to them being spurned by clubs but they turned out to be the goods when taken by others. Luke Ball's hammy was shot and he couldn't get depth in his kicking. Andrew Swallow's disposal was questionable. Jack Darling was a bad egg who was supposed to have suffered brain damage in a brawl.

I'm not suggesting we blindly take players without going through dud diligence. What I do say is that get a bit more proactive with our trading efforts because we've sat by for years and done very little while our own players are constantly mentioned as targets of other clubs.

A challenge for someone that has more time on their hands than I do;

How many players that are out of their first contract have actually left their first Club?

I would think bugger all, unless they have been offered massive dollars (ie Nathan Buckley from memory, and maybe even Jeff White).

... without going through dud diligence ...

There's a few players on our list that probably wouldn't have passed dud diligence

Thought "nipped in the butt" took home the chocolates but we have a new clubhouse leader.

Edited August 16, 201113 yr by old55

Haha nicely done

Get him.

He is exacty what we need, someone who can take a contested mark from in front. I watched the hawks game and was getting a bit annoyed that he was playing well, Port's asking price for him would have doubled.

I would be extremely dissapointed if Melbourne wasn't on the front foot for a player like this. I'm sure he'd be keen to get out of Port.

we can't get scully to sign and now we are to go after butcher? Whilst I'd have him if he walked out on port and requested a trade to melbourne.

John is my cousin and looks heaps like my mum. So on that basis, let's not get him.

He still can't kick.

With a name like "butcher", what do you expect...??

There's a few players on our list that probably wouldn't have passed dud diligence

Thought "nipped in the butt" took home the chocolates but we have a new clubhouse leader.

Cheers,

A Freudian slip of the typewriter but I think I may become famous now for coining a new term in sports recruiting!

He kicking action reminds one of James Manson.

This is not good.

do I smell the air of desperation ?

Port are going to ask for all the tea in China for Butcher. Not sure us giving up all out tea for a player with one good game under his belt is the best idea.

If we can trade based on current value, I would be keen.

Jamar or Silvia should do it. Lets go.

Jamar or Silvia should do it. Lets go.

It's not April's fool day you know... you would have to be kidding.

do I smell the air of desperation ?

No- Stupidity...

As the worst kicking side in the league the last thing we want is a forward who can't kick....sheeesh!