Arki Butler reveals tough recruiter question, Essendon Bombers, where will he be picked, exclusive interview, latest news

“Why should we take you with our first pick?”

It’s the repeat recruiter question that left top-five draft prospect Arki Butler feeling a tad uncomfortable throughout the interview process.

Because while AFL clubs picking at the top end need to evaluate the viability of taking him early, the 18-year-old admits that boasting about himself doesn’t sit all that well.

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It comes as Butler prepares to have his name likely called within the first six selections on November 19.

“I’m not a massive fan of the ones where you’ve got to talk about yourself – the ones that are sort of just like, ‘Why should we draft you?’” Butler told Foxfooty.com.au at the Draft Combine.

“Or, a couple of teams at the top have sort of said, ‘Why should we take you with our first pick?’ It’s hard to talk yourself up in one of those situations; they’re the ones that throw me off.”

The Sandringham Dragons standout said the question-and-answer dance with clubs was unlike anything he’d ever experienced, but he was determined to put himself out there for them to see.

“A few of them meet outside of home, and then a few of them come into home and see what your living situation’s like and want to meet your family. It’s been pretty awesome to get to know them all.

“You sort of just want to be yourself, and if they like you for who you are, and if you’re lucky enough to get drafted by them, then how awesome is that?

“But it’s been pretty surreal for them to come into home and speak to me and the family.”

By the time the Combine rolled around at the start of October, Butler had met with all but two clubs in the competition, with interest in the dynamic forward understandably sky-high.

Among them was Essendon — a particularly exciting prospect for the lifelong Bombers supporter, whose entire family shares his allegiance.

The Dons appear to be keen on GWV Rebels midfielder Ethan Drever with the draft’s first open-pool pick, but the possibility of Butler winding up at Tullamarine can’t be ruled out; still in Matt Rosa’s mix.

“I’ve been quite a big Essendon fan my whole life; my whole family is,” he said.

“It was pretty exciting when they came over to our house, but I try not to buy into it too much.

“It would obviously be awesome to end up there, but I’d be more than grateful to end up at any club, give them 100 per cent and show them all of me.”

Provided Dougie Cochrane and Cody Walker have bids matched at the top of the order, and Drever becomes a Bomber – as is widely predicted – it’s hard to see a situation where Richmond passes on Butler at No.4, with Melbourne lurking after that.

And with the Tigers in need of more smaller-forward options next to Seth Campbell and the emerging Jasper Alger – and Rhyan Mansell potentially Tasmania-bound – the fit is seamless.

Especially if they’d be getting a Toby Greene-esque forward threat who can also eventually push into the midfield in the Kozzy Pickett-Zac Bailey mould.

Because that’s the clear picture in Butler’s mind of the player he hopes to become.

“Just how (Greene) gets up in the air, but also how clean he is at ground level,” he said.

“They (Pickett and Bailey) are a little bit different to Toby in that they can go in the midfield and have a big impact, but I just love how they go forward and get dangerous and kick goals and also provide for their teammates.”

The dangerous small forward prides himself on his one-on-one work inside 50, ability to lose opponents, and natural goal sense and craft.

“Seeing guys at AFL level who can impact in that small forward role is pretty awesome,” he said.

“It’s definitely something I’m looking to do … I’m just a small forward who likes to get on the scoreboard and kick a few goals.”

Butler added about his fit in the modern game: “Use the example of Brisbane (in the Grand Final); what their small forwards do is sort of what makes their team … I strive to be one of those players who has a big impact on the game and on their team, making the most of every possession and being as impactful as possible.”

The Beaumaris Football Club product expects his top-level career to begin in the forward line, but already has his eyes on expanding into the middle of the ground.

Building his fitness and ability to run out games has been a major focus for Butler over the past two years, and he’s pleased to have seen that commitment start to translate into opportunities up the ground.

“I think I’ll begin in the forward line and bide my time there, but I’m definitely going to work towards becoming – even if it’s as a pinch-hit or full-time – midfielder,” he said.

“I’ll see what that entails, depending on what club I hopefully end up at.”

But his home might be the forward 50 for the foreseeable future after thriving during the Championships, booting 5.3 and averaging 6.3 score involvements across three games for Vic Metro.

He exhibited his ability to change direction and burst out of tight confines to evade defenders, while his disposal and footy smarts are among the best in the class.

It came amid a stellar Talent League campaign for which he earned Team of the Year honours, averaging 16.5 disposals, 3.5 inside-50s and 1.3 goals per game.

A collarbone injury in July cost him a chunk of his campaign, but overall, Butler – who learnt to “roll with the punches” this year – was pleased with what he was able to put on the park.

“It’s been awesome; I absolutely loved it,” he said of his draft year.

“I sort of got told at the start of the year, ‘Your under-18 draft year only rolls around once, so make the most of it’. So I feel like I tried to get involved in everything and make the most of the year as a whole.

“To be hampered by injury was frustrating, but it gave me a glimpse into what rehab’s going to be like if I were to get injured at the AFL level. But outside of that, in terms of the on-field stuff, I’ve absolutely loved it.”

Butler is also conscious of the scrutiny that comes with entering the league as a cream-of-the-crop pick, acknowledging that the external attention is only a taste of what awaits.

Still, he insists he’s more concerned with the opinions of those closest to him than what might be said on social media.

“I think you sort of try not to look at most of the stuff. But there’s a fair bit of coverage, and it’s hard not to notice what they’re saying about you. But that only gets five or 10 times larger at AFL level,” Butler said.

“I’m not really too fussed about what someone on Instagram thinks about me; I’m more focused on what my family and other people in my corner think about me.”

And there are more than a few in his corner, including his grandfather, Allan Davis, who played in St Kilda’s 1966 premiership.

“He’s always good for a little bit of advice here and there; it’s pretty cool to sort of bounce stuff off him,” Butler said.

His family has been a constant presence throughout his junior career.

“They’ve been a huge factor in my football,” he added.

“They always travel with me and come to all my games and are my biggest supporters when I play a bad game or a good game, which is always good to have them by my side.”

Away from the game, Butler enjoys following the NBA and NFL, with Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs among his biggest sporting interests, while golfing provides another outlet.

“Like any 18-year-old, I spend a lot of time with friends and sort of try to get around them the most,” Butler said.

“My family’s big on golf, so when I can get out with them, I do. It sort of keeps me occupied and takes my mind away from footy.”

In the lead-up to his big day, Butler said he wasn’t as nervous so much as he had “excited nerves” thinking about it.

“It’s something I’ve dreamt about all my life, and for it to be only about a month away is pretty awesome,” he said.

“It’s something I definitely don’t take for granted. I’ve got school exams to focus on first, but the draft’s obviously in the back of my mind.”

And with the draft fast approaching, his focus is firmly on making the most of the opportunity ahead – wherever it takes him.

“I feel like I’m more than ready to go to an AFL club and make an impact on the field, but also off the field, and just make the most of all the opportunities that arise with it,” he said.

“I’d love to have the self-belief and confidence that I could go and make an impact at a club immediately. It’s something I’ll work towards, and if it happens, then that’s great.

“But if not, then I’ll just work away until I can get my opportunity.”