Top five AFL Draft prospect Arki Butler has been backed to make the transition to AFL level quickly following a decorated junior career.
The dynamic talent got injured early in the third game of the National Championships but has established himself as arguably the best prospect in the open pool after strong form for Sandringham Dragons and Brighton Grammar.
“I think he can play as a small forward virtually straight away,” Sandringham Dragons coach Rob Harding said when quizzed on Butler's AFL readiness.
“It's a big step up from Talent League to AFL footy but his talent will put him in the frame from early on. Then it will be about adding layers to his game, continuing to build his tank, and refine his body and get to a point where he can get into the midfield a little bit.”
Butler looks most likely to end up at either Essendon or Richmond, which possess the first two picks in this year's draft – notwithstanding Richmond's top-end selection may be used in a trade for Zak Butters.
Both the Bombers – Butler's childhood club – and Richmond, where he could reunite with former Sandringham Dragon, Taj Hotton - are in need of a front-half spark plug so would be suited to selecting Butler.
It is anticipated Butler will return for Talent League finals, likely giving him four more games this season given the expectation that Sandringham will be around the mark to reach in the Talent League grand final.
Butler had hoped to return for Brighton Grammar's APS grand final on August 15 and his school would love access to their skipper and barometer but that appears a bridge too far
Building his endurance was a focus of Butler's during pre-season which has allowed him to show different aspects to his game having previously established himself as a bona fide hybrid matchup inside 50.
“A conversation we had during last year was what we wanted to do over the last pre-season," Harding said.
“He worked really hard to improve his tank a little bit He's a good contest player and he's going to be a good centre bounce player so we wanted to add more around running patterns as a midfielder.
“His Round 1 game against Eastern was terrific in that space.
“He's going to be primarily a forward to start at AFL level, a pinch hitting centre bounce midfielder, Jordan De Goey type player, I think that's what Arki can end up being.
“He's got a great footy brain and footy understanding. He's going to pick up the concepts at AFL level really quickly. Coaches are going to enjoy that side of him and he's going to do some miraculous things as a forward which will be cool to watch.”
For the full Craft of the Draft episode with Harding overviewing several of Sandringham's top prospects and some players who have recently graduated into the AFL, click here.
