Greg Butyn's Footy Redraft game hits 300,000 players in a month
Created by data analyst Greg Butyn, the fan-made AFL draft simulator Footy Redraft has drawn over 300,000 players in less than a month.
In less than a month the fan‑made AFL draft simulator Footy Redraft has attracted more than 300,000 players, turning a quiet experiment into a talking point in pubs, on the MCG and even in the stadium’s washrooms. The surge has sparked debate over how far a grassroots‑driven game can go before the sport’s commercial forces take notice.
Greg Butyn, a 40‑year data analyst and lifelong Western Bulldogs supporter, built the first version of the game “over a night or two” in July. He initially sent the bare‑bones prototype to a few mates for feedback.
Media additions
“I sent it to a couple of mates and they just said it was good,”
Greg Butyn, creator, via AOL
The response turned from polite acknowledgement to obsession. Within a day of a modest social‑media announcement on 13 July, roughly 20,000 people had signed up. By the end of the second week the figure had jumped past 300,000, with the platform reporting more than four million simulated seasons.
Fans describe the experience as “glued to their phones” even when a live match is on. The game lets users rewind two decades, take a club’s real list and re‑shape it using authentic player performance data. The appeal, according to Butyn, lies in the mixture of “nostalgia, pain, glory and what‑if” that every supporter carries.
“There’s that real feeling of, oh, ‘I’ve got a really good team together, and they’ve got rolled in the prelim’, and that makes you come back for that time that you do win as an underdog,”
Greg Butyn, creator, via The Guardian
That emotional hook has translated into a culture of sharing. The game’s first wave of exposure came from a tweet that was retweeted by several users, and the momentum was amplified when AFL‑endorsed creator Dan Gorringe filmed a half‑hour walkthrough that quickly amassed views across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Butyn says the comment sections have been uniformly positive, noting that no one has highlighted “obvious” errors such as mis‑placed positions.
“Everyone seems so positive. I’m actually really shocked, and no one has pointed out something dumb, like ‘He’s in the wrong position’, or ‘That guy had a better season’,”
Greg Butyn, creator, via AOL
The simplicity of Footy Redraft contrasts sharply with the current AFL information ecosystem, which has become saturated with gambling odds displayed alongside fixtures. Butyn deliberately eschews that model, refusing two investment offers that would have introduced ads.
“The offer would have to be, I don’t know, not going to get bought just for a couple of bucks. I think the game’s too fun and it’s got too much goodwill, and people are enjoying it too much to spoil it with ads,”
Greg Butyn, creator, via The Guardian
Instead, the platform runs a modest donation system, which “has covered web server costs, at around $80 per month, plus a couple of pints”. The revenue model is deliberately low‑key, reflecting Butyn’s belief that the game’s “shallow ceiling” in terms of market size – primarily an Australian audience – does not justify heavy commercialisation.
Development has not stalled. The creator has already overhauled the Hall of Fame and rewards system and is piloting a trade mechanic that could let players swap historical athletes. He admits the feature could disrupt the “cadence of drafting”, but is keen to see whether it adds depth or dilutes the core appeal.
“I’m throwing up if it actually detracts or adds to the game because it really breaks up the cadence of drafting, and re‑going. Maybe the fun bit is not having to think too much and just spinning through all these old names,”
Greg Butyn, creator, via The Guardian
While the surge in user numbers evidences a niche appetite for speculative footy scenarios, the broader implications for the AFL remain uncertain. Some pundits argue that a free‑form, data‑driven draft tool could eventually influence how clubs think about talent pathways, while others see it as a harmless pastime that merely satisfies fan curiosity.
Key milestones
- 13 July – Game announced on social media.
- Day 1 – 20 000 players sign up.
- 2½ weeks later – Player count surpasses 300 000.
- To date – Over 4 million simulated seasons logged.
What to watch next
- Roll‑out of the trade mechanic and community reaction.
- Potential partnership talks with AFL clubs or media partners.
- Follow‑up donation drives to fund new features.
- Further coverage on Newsarchy UK sport as the game’s ecosystem evolves.
