Sam Butler Biography

Sam Butler announces his retirement from AFL football, becoming the last remaining 2006 premiership player to call time.

Butler's body let him down in his prime when he managed only 26 games between 2007-10, and he never played a full season.

"If I went back through those times again, knowing what I knew now, then I would've done things slightly different and I probably would've played more," Butler said.

"So I have regrets about that, obviously.

"I've ticked off a lot of boxes I wanted to tick-off, especially late in my career, the main one being life member of this football club, which I love.

"I can retire now pretty content."

Sam Butler will play on for a 14th season after signing a new one-year deal with West Coast to remain at the club in 2017.

"Sam has been a wonderful servant for many years and we’re delighted to have him commit to the club for another season," West Coast general manager of football Craig Vozzo said.

"His experience is invaluable to our young players and we think he's still playing at a high level, so to have him on board for 2017 is fantastic."

West Coast's clash with North Melbourne on Sunday will be the Eagles 297th match since Sam Butler was drafted.

It will be just the veteran’s 150th career game. He has missed as many as he has played, so reaching this milestone means more to Butler than most.

"It's right up there with the premiership," Butler said.

"It will be the proudest moment of my AFL career, purely to be a life member of this football club and hopefully to repay some of the faith they have shown in me over many years."

Injuries have plagued Butler throughout his career. He has never played more than 17 games in any season. He missed the entire 2007 season and played just five games in both 2008 and 2010.

Soft tissue problems in his legs have been the major source of frustration. Butler has had to work exceptionally hard down the years to continue playing.

"It's been a long process," Butler said.

"I couldn't describe all the different things I've changed over the years. The continuity for me is a massive thing. The off-seasons are not off-seasons so much for me. I need to keep my body moving and I need to keep it strong, my leg muscles especially."

Sam Butler had one of the weirdest reunion experiences of all the 2006 premiership players that gathered for the 10-year anniversary function.

While the large majority of the players in that victorious Eagles side gathered prior to the match between West Coast and Essendon for a lap of honour around Domain Stadium, Butler was preparing to play.

He is the only member of the 2006 flag-winning team still playing, and he said running out through the guard of honour that was provided by his premiership teammates was a surreal moment.

"It felt weird, honestly it felt weird," Butler said.

"We haven't been in the same room or same area for a long time. To have that kind of happen for the first time with the guard of honour when I was running out, it was kind of a surreal, weird situation.

"But it's great to see those guys with smiling faces and I'm really looking forward to the next couple of days catching up with them and having a yarn."

Sam Butler re-signs with the Eagles to play on in 2016.

Butler is the only surviving member of the Eagles' 2006 premiership team and has arguably played his best football of his career in the past two seasons after battling injuries throughout his time at the club.

"It's nice to feel wanted," Butler said.

"I work my butt off to be the best player I can be and to be offered a contract is a nod of approval from the people who make those decisions at the club.

"I feel like I have had my best pre-seasons in the last couple of years and it probably comes down to the choices I made in the off-season three or four years ago. Good pre-seasons have rolled into good seasons and I feel as energetic as I have ever done."

In his eleventh year as an AFL player, West Coast defender Sam Butler says he's not going anywhere.

Butler has battled a raft of injuries over the journey, restricted to just 117 games but having found consistency in the past couple of years, he believes he's got more to offer.

"The club's been so fantastic to me and they could have got rid of me many times throughout my career I'm sure," Butler said.

"But they stuck by me and I'm still hanging around and still really enjoying it. I love West Coast, I love the club."

West Coast has extended the contracts of defender Sam Butler and ruckman Scott Lycett for another two years.

"I am very pleased and excited to be extending with the club for the next two years," Butler said.

"The club is poised to launch a serious premiership assault in the near future and it is great to have the opportunity to be a part of that."

A finals bound West Coast is good motivation for defender Sam Butler as he makes his return from another injury.

"If I got injured in round 15 last year I'd be pretty shattered, to try and get back for one or two games it's just not worth it," Butler said.

"But this year I've got plenty to think about and it's made the rehab go a bit quicker. I felt fine at training during the week, but unfortunately with my rich history of injuries they've decided to give me another week off and hopefully I'll be back playing somewhere next week."

Sam Butler's perseverance is set to be rewarded with a new contract despite the midfielder's career thus far having been plagued with injuries.

"They've been amazing the way they've stuck by me and when I've been fit they've played me," Butler said of the Eagles.

"This is my seventh year now and I've played less than 70 games, less than 10 games a year. No player hopes to do that over a seven-year career. The biggest disappointment is not being able to repay the faith the club has put in me."

Sam Butler suffers a fractured foot and may be out of action for up to two months.

Sam Butler played a total of 22 games combined last season in the AFL and WAFL, something he is looking forward to making a habit of.

"That's the most I've ever played in a season since I started playing footy. It's something I didn't know I could do," Butler said.

"So to come out of this year knowing that I can is a big boost for my confidence. It gives me the opportunity to play a full season, hopefully back it up with a full pre-season and then hopefully a full season again."

Eagle Sam Butler lauds the contribution of Adam Selwood after Sunday's win over Melbourne.

Selwood is currently averaging 24 disposals in 2009.

"I can only really talk for the midfield, but having 'Sellers', with his voice and obviously his leadership when he's around the ball, he's amazing," Butler said after the win against the Demons.

"He leads the way and you can't really hide from (players like) them; if you're not bringing the same kind of effort, you stand out like a sore thumb.

"He's been really good back in the midfield, where I think he belongs."