Tigers return and they're 'hungrier than ever'afl.com.au
27 November 2017RICHMOND'S premiership triumph will make the Tigers hungrier than ever in 2018, according to forward Dan Butler, with the players already addressing their desire to go back-to-back next season.
The Tigers' first-to-fourth-year players returned to training on Monday alongside the club's new draftees, with Dustin Martin and Jack Riewoldt already spotted at Punt Road Oval to start their preparations for next season.
While the Western Bulldogs were unable to recreate the formula that took them to the 2016 premiership, the Tigers haven't wasted any time in addressing their determination to back up in 2018.
"We spoke about it before. We're like every other club. We're trying to do the same thing next year and we're going to be hungrier than ever to get that feeling again," Butler said.
"It was such a great experience and I know all of us will want to experience it again."
Butler watched the 2017 Grand Final a couple of weeks after accepting his premiership medal and said the team's achievement still hadn't sunk in.
“It’s still a bit surreal,” he said.
“I sat down and watched the game a couple of weeks after (it happened) ... it still, even after watching it, hasn’t sunk in. It’s a weird feeling but in the next few weeks it will start to sink in.”
The off-season has included a trip to Hong Kong as a team, but also the individual programs all players are now given to make sure they return ready for pre-season training.
"The few weeks following the Grand Final was a really special time we all got to share together," Butler said.
"We enjoyed the first two or three weeks and we went to Hong Kong for our footy trip, which was great as a group and we had a really good time over there.
"We all had our individual programs that we had to get stuck into soon after we got back, so there wasn't too much time for partying and we're back into it now."
The 21-year-old Butler is keeping things simple as he attempts to build on his stellar season when he kicked 30 goals in 23 games, and alongside Jason Castagna and Daniel Rioli, terrorised defenders with his pressure.
"I just want to build on what I did this year," Butler said.
Butler, who made his debut in round one of 2017, said his goal for next year was to win more of the ball and build on his breakout season.
"If they want to move me to a wing or into the midfield I'd be open to that," the 21-year-old said.
"But I'm pretty happy with the forward line role, I think we've got a really good bunch of blokes down there and a lot of midfielders."
Entering his fourth season, Butler met the Tigers' new draftees, including small forward Jack Higgins, who shapes as a bargain pick for the club at selection No.17.
Butler said he looked forward to playing alongside the 178cm Oakleigh product, who joins an extensive list of small forwards at the club.
"It'll be good to teach him and if we can learn a few things from him that'd be great," Butler said.
"Obviously he's been such a good player in the under-18s and we're just looking forward to having him onboard and seeing what he can provide."
Butler said he spotted star midfielder Dustin Martin back on the track on Friday “in good nick” after his overseas holiday, and backed his teammate to replicate the form that saw him collect almost every individual trophy the game has to offer this season next year.
“I don’t see why (he can’t),” Butler said.
“He’s gotten better and better every year, so ... if he can go even half as good as he did this year, it’d be still a bloody good season.”
Butler is confident nothing much has changed although he knows the way many view the club may have altered.
He's back to start the climb up the mountain again.
"We had a good time, then it was pretty much back into our own programs and back into work," Butler said.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-11-27/tigers-return-and-theyre-hungrier-than-everhttp://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dan-butler-the-premiership-player-is-once-again-at-richmonds-service-20171126-gztd9khttp://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/premiership-still-sinking-in-for-richmond-players-as-they-return-for-2018-preseason/news-story/e5ca3e87f8ea27b926c7d8d7036623d4
