Daniel Butler has been a revelation as a footballer in his first year at St Kilda, bringing the frontal pressure learned under Damien Hardwick at Richmond and getting even more impressive results at his new home. He has turned into a fantasy-relevant player, albeit only usable in draft leagues as a low-end starter and worth inclusion in Saint stacks for daily fantasy purposes against lowly opponents, of which today's antagonist Hawthorn is one. He lacks consistency, as do most small forwards, but on his day he can be a matchwinner both for his team and for yours.
Daniel Butler has been a revelation as a footballer in his first year at St Kilda, bringing the frontal pressure learned under Damien Hardwick at Richmond and getting even more impressive results at his new home. He has turned into a fantasy-relevant player, albeit only usable in draft leagues as a low-end starter and worth inclusion in Saint stacks for daily fantasy purposes against lowly opponents, of which today's antagonist Hawthorn is one. He lacks consistency, as do most small forwards, but on his day he can be a matchwinner both for his team and for yours.
Butler answers the knock
A small forward with a propensity for the mercurial, Daniel Butler arrives at the Saints ready to add pressure and offensive nous to a forward line which has badly needed those things since their grand final run of many years ago. The 2017 premiership winner increased his tackle output last season, but struggled to hit the scoreboard with less than a goal per game. Butler has been brought in to provide a necessity of the modern game: pressure from the front line. His job security seems high despite a host of competitors; if they were good enough, why was he brought in? While forward pockets have become essential to premiership success in recent seasons, that vital role has not resulted in desirable fantasy production.
The Butler did it again
As he did in the premiership year, Daniel Butler went at better than a goal-a-game rate last year as a forward pocket from less than 12 disposals per week. Then an ankle injury ended his season after round 16. Butler's role is too deep and involves almost no centre rotations, which means he is not relevant for fantasy draft leagues as he is not due enough in the way of natural improvement.
Butler is a footman
One of a number of largely unheralded small forwards who scrounged their way to the flag last year with work sans ball, Daniel Butler's rare ventures into startable territory came during routs. While he is not a natural fantasy player due to his role, Butler is worth a look off the free agent pool for a week if the Tigers are facing a minnow club.
