John Butcher (Australian footballer)
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer (born 1991)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=September 2017}}
{{peacock|date=September 2017}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = John Butcher
| image =
| fullname = John Butcher
| nickname = Clean Hands
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|7|3|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Maffra, Victoria, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = Gippsland Power (TAC Cup)
| draftpick = No. 8, 2009 National Draft, {{AFL|PA}}
| height = 197 cm
| weight = 90 kg
| position = Forward
| statsend = 2016
| years1 = 2010–2016
| club1 = {{AFL|PA}}
| games_goals1 = 31 (41)
| careerhighlights =
}}
John Butcher (born 3 July 1991) is an Australian former professional footballer who played for the Port Adelaide in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was drafted by Port Adelaide with pick 8 in the first round of the 2009 AFL Draft.{{Cite web |title=2009 AFL National Draft |url=https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_drafts?year=2009 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=www.footywire.com}}
Professional career
Butcher was born in Maffra, Victoria. He was noted for his speed, agility, and marking skills as a footballer, leading to the nickname "Clean Hands".[http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/gippsland-forward-looms-for-draft/story-e6frg1xu-1225712875440 John Butcher expected to go top-two in the national draft] At the AFL draft camp, he achieved speeds over 20 metres and completed repeat sprints in 24.88 seconds, placing him in the top 28 percent of players. He kicked 40 goals in 16 games for Gippsland Power and Vic Country. He represented Vic Country Under-18s in 2008 and 2009, including kicking three goals against Vic Metro in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/77947/default.aspx |title=Draft tip Butcher carves up Metro|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606090756/http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/77947/default.aspx|archive-date=6 June 2009}} Butcher is an AIS-AFL Academy graduate.[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-faces-decision-on-key-forward-john-butcher/story-e6frf9jf-1225760419671 Melbourne faces decision on key forward John Butcher]
References
Butcher did not make his debut until round 21 of the Round 21 due to injuries and training; he played alongside Tom Jonas, who later became captain.{{cite news |last=Lanigan |first=Roslyn |date=12 August 2011 |title=Maffra's John Butcher makes debut |url=http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2011/08/12/367835_latest-news.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330065534/http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2011/08/12/367835_latest-news.html |archive-date=2012-03-30 |access-date=13 August 2011 |newspaper=The Weekly Times}} Port Adelaide was defeated by {{AFL Haw}} by a club-record 165 points.{{cite web |title=Hawthorn v Port Adelaide – Sat, 13-Aug-2011 2:10 PM |url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2011/101320110813.html |access-date=9 October 2016 |publisher=AFL Tables}}{{AFL Tables|ref=T/Tom_Jonas.html}} In his second match against the {{AFL WB}}, he kicked six straight goals from six disposals. Despite being nicknamed 'The Future' by supporters, Butcher struggled to establish himself as an AFL player.{{Cite web |date=2011-08-17 |title=Butcher Focused on Footy |url=https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/779935/butcher-focused-on-footy |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=portadelaidefc.com.au |language=en}} Butcher played the first three games of the 2014 season, scoring two goals before being returned to the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), where he finished the season.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}
In 2015, Butcher's form in the SANFL was inconsistent, and he played just one AFL match in Round 1. However, with Jay Schulz being a late exclusion in Round 20, Butcher returned to the senior side against Greater Western Sydney and played the final four matches of the AFL season. After gathering 6 contested marks and 7 marks inside 50 against Gold Coast and Fremantle in the final two matches, he was offered a one-year contract for 2016.
Following the 2016 season, he was delisted and subsequently signed with Central Districts Football Club in the SANFL for 2017. Butcher and his brother Danny joined Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) club Nightcliff, playing in their 2018 premiership team. In the same year, he helped his hometown of Maffra win their 9th premiership in 18 years.{{cite news|url=http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/sport/afl/news/2016/8/port-adelaide-confirm-four-departures/|title=Port Adelaide Confirm Four Departures|date=30 August 2016|work=Triple M|access-date=30 August 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911140428/http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/sport/afl/news/2016/8/port-adelaide-confirm-four-departures/|archive-date=11 September 2016}}
External links
- {{Portplayer}}
- {{AFL Tables|J/John_Butcher}}
{{2009 AFL national draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Butcher, John}}
Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
Category:Central District Football Club players
Category:Gippsland Power players
Category:Port Adelaide Football Club players
Category:Port Adelaide Football Club players (all competitions)
Category:Maffra Football Club players
Category:Nightcliff Football Club players
Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen
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