Samuel Butler (born 14 January 1986) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Raised in Gawler, South Australia, Butler took up Australian rules football as a teenager. In 2003, he played for Central District's reserves team in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), which won that season's reserves premiership. Later that year, the West Coast Eagles selected him with the 20th pick in the AFL National Draft. Butler debuted for West Coast during the 2004 season and was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award.

A medium-sized defender and occasional midfielder, Butler played in West Coast's 2006 premiership team but was limited during the following season due to a groin injury. Butler struggled with groin injuries throughout his career, playing his 100th game in 2013, nine seasons after his debut. He retired in 2017.

Career

Butler began playing Australian rules football as a teenager. He represented South Australia at under-16 level, starting with South Gawler Football Club before joining Central District Football Club's youth development team.Peter Argent (6 June 2013). "The Butler Did It – Bulldogs Export makes 100" – Central District Football Club. Retrieved 10 August 2014.Chronology – South Gawler Football Club. Retrieved 10 August 2014. As a member of the AIS/AFL Academy, he represented South Australia at the AFL Under-18 Championships in 2002 and 2003 and was part of Central District's reserves SANFL premiership team in 2003.

In 2004, Butler made his AFL debut for the West Coast Eagles in Round 10 against Richmond. He went on to play 12 games that season, including a loss in an elimination final against Sydney. In 2006, Butler was a member of the premiership-winning team.

In 2007, due to a persistent groin strain (osteitis pubis), Butler did not play in any AFL games, only playing WAFL reserve games for Perth. In 2014, Butler experienced the best performance of his career during the Round 20 match of the season against ."Eagles soar over cold Pies to keep finals hopes alive" – AFL.com.au. Retrieved 10 August 2014.Sam Butler – AFL Tables. Retrieved 10 August 2014.

Butler amassed 25 disposals in the 2015 AFL Grand Final and remained under contract with the Eagles until his retirement at the end of the 2017 season. After retirement, Butler accepted a position in West Coast's commercial partnerships team.

Statistics Across his 166-game career, Butler recorded a total of 16 goals and 22 behinds, amassing 2,701 disposals (1,603 kicks, 1,098 handballs), 746 marks, and 433 tackles. His per-game averages were 16.3 disposals, 9.7 kicks, 6.6 handballs, 4.5 marks, and 2.6 tackles.

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2004 |style="text-align:center;"| | 26 || 12 || 1 || 2 || 87 || 77 || 164 || 33 || 16 || 0.1 || 0.2 || 7.3 || 6.4 || 13.7 || 2.8 || 1.3 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2005 |style="text-align:center;"| | 26 || 14 || 3 || 2 || 103 || 62 || 165 || 51 || 18 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 7.4 || 4.4 || 11.8 || 3.6 || 1.3 |- style="background:#eaeaea;" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2006 |style="text-align:center;"| | 26 || 14 || 6 || 5 || 156 || 123 || 279 || 58 || 59 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 11.1 || 8.8 || 19.9 || 4.1 || 4.2 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2007 |style="text-align:center;"| | 26 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- style="background:#eaeaea;" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2008 |style="text-align:center;"| | 26 || 5 || 0 || 3 || 49 || 30 || 79 || 21 || 11 || 0.0 || 0.6 || 9.8 || 6.0 || 15.8 || 4.2 || 2.2 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2009 |style="text-align:center;"| | 26 || 16 || 1 || 1 || 132 || 124 || 256 || 60 || 38 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 8.3 || 7.8 || 16.0 || 3.8 || 2.4 |- style="background:#eaeaea;" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2010 |style="text-align:center;"| | 26 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 45 || 47 || 92 || 26 || 17 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 9.0 || 9.4 || 18.4 || 5.2 || 3.4

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2011 |style="text-align:center;"| | 26 || 13 || 0 || 0 || 160 || 68 || 228 || 80 || 51 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 12.3 || 5.2 || 17.5 || 6.2 || 3.9 |- style="background:#eaeaea;" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2012 |style="text-align:center;"| | 26 || 14 || 1 || 3 || 177 || 68 || 245 || 74 || 33 || 0.1 || 0.2 || 12.6 || 4.9 || 17.5 || 5.3 || 2.4

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2013 |style="text-align:center;"| | 26 || 15 || 1 || 2 || 167 || 101 || 268 || 78 || 58 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 11.1 || 6.7 || 17.9 || 5.2 || 3.9 |- style="background:#eaeaea;" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2014 |style="text-align:center;"| | 26 || 12 || 1 || 1 || 108 || 84 || 192 || 47 || 34 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 9.0 || 7.0 || 16.0 || 3.9 || 2.8

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2015 |style="text-align:center;"| | 26 || 17 || 2 || 3 || 181 || 123 || 304 || 96 || 32 || 0.1 || 0.2 || 10.6 || 7.2 || 17.9 || 5.6 || 1.9 |- style="background:#eaeaea;" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2016 |style="text-align:center;"| | 26 || 20 || 0 || 0 || 162 || 136 || 298 || 86 || 54 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 8.1 || 6.8 || 14.9 || 4.3 || 2.7

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2017 |style="text-align:center;"| | 26 || 9 || 0 || 0 || 76 || 55 || 131 || 36 || 12 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 8.4 || 6.1 || 14.6 || 4.0 || 1.3 |- class="sortbottom" ! colspan=3| Career ! 166 ! 16 ! 22 ! 1603 ! 1098 ! 2701 ! 746 ! 433 ! 0.1 ! 0.1 ! 9.7 ! 6.6 ! 16.3 ! 4.5 ! 2.6

See also List of AFL debuts in 2004 List of West Coast Eagles players

References

External links