It makes you wonder how much psychological warfare for want of a better expression goes on from clubs about various draftees to try and get them to slip down the draft order to their pick or build up other kids who a club may have no interest in. Rich was bagged mercilessly last year about having no development left in him, no X factor, and he couldn't break a tag. It was utter BS. Cotch likewise was bagged for not being able to break a tag and being an outside player. Joel Selwood's body wouldn't stand up to AFL after 5 years. Mitch Clark and Buddy had bad attitudes who would head home to WA. None of them had great U18 Champs but they've showed their worth at AFL level and why as juniors they were rated so highly.
Butcher kicked 32.19 this year from 11 TAC Cup games. Hardly the stats of a hack goalkicker. If we rubbished key forwards because of the occasional yips in front of the big sticks we would call Buddy, Richo, N.Riewoldt, J.Brown all duds when in fact quality big key forwards are matchwinners.
You're spot on MT. Absolutely happens.
But you can't predict the future and only draft on what is in front of view. Butcher has been in the system 2 years and has shown the highs and lows. Martin has shown all this year and shown plenty.
With Melbourne picking Scully and Trengrove our pol for pick 3 is:
Martin
Butcher
Cunnington
Moribito
Lucas
Can't see anyone else been taken ahead of all of that group..
We can't afford another Oakly Nicholls.
Butcher could flop and history suggests the Tiger faithful are inpatient, he's nervous in front fo goal and could get eaten up by the pressure of it all. 1.7 in a Grand Final suggest he isn't an Ice Man.
In fairness he's been over analyzed but there are no flaws in Martins game. He's teh best bet to hold the stigma of Number 3 pick.