Sam BUTLER

2017 Digest:   Written off by many over the past few years entering each season but finds a way to play the majority of games.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

Played for : West Coast

1	WAFL	Had 21 touches in the back half. Steady outing as expected.	–
2	WAFL	Did his job well in the back half but also got a fair bit of ball himself.	–
3		Senior emergency.
4	Syd	Stationed in the back half and was handy on return to the senior line-up. 21 possessions and should keep his spot.	6
5	Haw	Mixed and matched on a few different Hawthorn smalls and had a handful with each one.	4
6	Frem	Strong defensive job on the Freo small forwards.	6
7	Port	Serviceable across halfback without being damaging.	4
8	WB	Didn’t have a key role on the big name small forwards like previous weeks.	4
9	Ess	Took Fantasia as well as other Bomber smalls. Had hands full throughout.	4
10	GWS	Worked hard in defence and had 24 disposals. Had a go.	5
11	GCS	Did not have a major influence, and perhaps the end is approaching?	2
12		Bye.
13	WAFL	Spent time on Liam Ryan and found him slippery – the Lion booted four after half time.	–
14	WAFL	Struggled a touch and looked off the pace at times in loss to Swans.	–
15	WB	Lined up on Wallis in back pocket. Strained a hamstring in third term and joined the long injury list.	2
16		Hamstring.
17		Hamstring.
18		Hamstring.
19		Hamstring.
20		Hamstring.
21		Hamstring.
22		Hamstring.
23		Hamstring.
EF		Hamstring.
SF		Hamstring.

2016 Season

Played for : West Coast

1	Bris	A link ma, but mainly in the second half. Didn’t do much early.	4
2	Haw	Rough day as a small defender. Hawks’ dangerous forwards gave them fits.	3
3	Frem	Didn’t have a lot to do in defence. The ball wasn’t down there a lot.	5
4	Rich	Worked down the ground to find the ball because it wasn’t in the defensive 50.	5
5	Syd	Veteran worked hard in trying conditions.	5
6	Coll	Laid a crunching tackle early. That was about it though.	3
7		Groin.
8	StK	Solid four quarter game and used ball well.	6
9	Port	Did his best work within the 50-metre arcs.	5
10	GCS	Didn’t see a lot of action because the ball wasn’t in his area enough.	4
11	WB	Battled hard down back but got caught a few times on unsuitable match-ups.	5
12	WAFL	Bye.	–
13	Bris	Reliable in defence and collected about half of his 13 disposals in last term when under siege.	5
15	Ess	Solid but didn’t have a lot to worry about.	4
16	NM	Shut down Harvey early. Kept him quiet.	6
17	Carl	Unobtrusive performance despite 15 disposals. Played a minor role.	4
18	Melb	The defence was under pressure all day. Stood up well.	5
19	Coll	Took on a number of roles and was only fair. Just nine possessions.	4
20		Groin.
21	GWS	Battled away down back opposed to Johnson.	4
22	Haw	Played a role instead of chasing the footy.	5
23	Adel	Great job on Betts, keeping him to one goal.	7
EF	WB	Had task on Dickson for parts of night and certainly not the worst.	5

2015 Season

Played for : West Coast

1	WB	Non-descript sort of effort down back. Didn’t provide a lot of run.	4
2		Groin.
3	Frem	Had hands full with Walters from the get go.	3
4	Bris	Two late goals capped off a great day.	8
5	GWS	Composed in defence with 24 disposals. In really good form.	6
6	Port	Played well between the 50 metre arcs.	6
7	GCS	Composed. Used the ball well around the ground.	5
8	StK	Had a fair share of ball but opponent Sinclair also won plenty of touches.	5
9	Geel	Didn’t have to do much down back and worked up the ground to get involved.	6
10	NM	Unobtrusive performance down back. Not a damaging player.	5
11	Ess	Composed in defence. Just got his job done.	5
12		Concussion.
13		Concussion.
14	Melb	Used down back on Neal-Bullen and was fair on return to team.	5
15		Hip.
16		Hip.
17	WAFL	Solid return from injury with 19 possessions.	–
18	WAFL	Played well off half-back with 24 possessions and six marks.	–
19	Haw	No real impact in defence on the dangerous small forwards.	4
20	Frem	Was composed under pressure and the Eagles lacked height in defence.	5
21		Hamstring.
22		Hamstring.
23	StK	No fuss in defence. Just got a job done.	5
QF	Haw	Veteran defender played a small role from the back half.	4
PF	NM	Veteran did what he had to with minimal fuss. Steady without starring.	6
GF	Haw	Had Puopolo at times and was one of the better Eagles.	7

2014 Season

Played for : West Coast

1	WAFL	Veteran had 17 possessions in first game for new club.	–
2	WAFL	Nice outing at half back with 24 possessions.	–
3	WAFL	Outstanding with 32 disposals and a goal.	–
4	Geel	Only two rebound 50s and had his hands full with Cat mid-sized forwards.	3
5	WAFL	Worked hard for 27 possessions.	–
6	WAFL	Continued his good form with 27 possessions.	–
7		Senior emergency.
8	WAFL	Superb again in midfield with 28 disposals, two goals.	–
9	WAFL	Bye.	–
10	WAFL	Bye.	–
11	WAFL	Played his part in a number of roles.	–
12		Senior emergency.
13	GCS	Sub came on mid third term and had time on Ablett who cut loose late. Hurt late.	1
14	StK	Matched on Minchington and neither did much.	5
15	Frem	Sub. Eight touches after coming on in second half. Fair.	2
16	Syd	Sub. On in third term and got involved much more than the man he replaced.	3
17	Bris	Improved as the game unfolded.	6
18	Rich	Won plenty of ball out of the back half and used it well. Among the best.	7
19	Adel	Complemented the big four in midfield with three inside-50s.	6
20	Coll	Huge game highlighted by five rebound 50s and 14 marks. Career best?	8
21	Ess	Excellent first half in defence but went off with facial injury in third term.	6
22	Melb	Got the job down without much fuss. Dependable type.	6
23	GCS	Veteran played off a wing. Did what game required without setting it alight.	6
QF	WAFL	Terrific in midfield with 29 disposals.	–
SF		–
PF	WAFL	Tried hard in beaten midfield with 22 touches, eight tackles.	–
GF		–

2013 Season

Played for : West Coast

1	WAFL	Terrific for Perth with 29 possessions.	–
2	Haw	On Lewis initially and also had tough job on Rioli for a while.	3
3	Melb	Solid as a rock on the small forwards. Used it well.	5
4	Carl	Didn’t know he was out there most of the night. Gave very little.	3
5	Port	Found plenty of the footy but couldn’t keep up with Neade in the later stages.	6
6		Calf.
7		Calf.
8		Calf.
9	GWS	Enjoyed a solid performance, snapping a goal late in the first term.	5
10	Rich	On King who posed a threat from second term	3
11	StK	Did a good job on Saad but made a couple of errors in final term.	4
13	Haw	Had Breust and for the most part OK but he got away to kick three goals.	4
14	Ess	Winderlich got away from him but he stuck to task.	6
15		Back.
16		Back.
17	WAFL	Strong return with Perth finishing with 31 possessions.	–
18	WB	Thrown role on Giansiracusa and stuck to that pretty well. Rebounded when he could.	6
19	GCS	Picked up touches but didn’t always use the ball well.	5
20	Ess	Played his role well. Provided good defensive pressure and solid ball use.	6
21	Geel	Duncan fried him early. Got better as game dragged on but not his night.	5
22	Coll	Battled away in defence but had little impact moving the ball forward. Six tackles.	5
23	Adel	Had a fair bit of the ball but so did his opponent Greig.	4
QF
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

Played for : West Coast

1	WAFL	13 possessions for Perth.	–
2	WAFL	Good game with 22 possessions and seven marks.	–
3	WAFL	24 possessions and a goal for Perth.	–
4	WAFL	Outstanding for Perth with 33 possessions.	–
5	Rich	Never a factor down back and had a quiet one by his standards.	3
6	NM	Not as effective with his disposal as usual.	5
7	Ess	Low key in defence.	4
8	StK	Won his share of the ball and kept the St Kilda crumbers quiet.	6
9	Frem	Subbed out after performing well. Was calm in defence.	5
14	WAFL	Terrific for Perth with 32 possessions and two goals.	–
15	NM	Big start to the game then handy overall. Missed vital shot in closing stages.	5
16	Syd	Didn’t have a big impact with the ball.	5
17	Adel	Did run with Bernie Vince on occasions and won plenty of his own footy.	6
18	Bris	Started well. Didn’t have much to worry about as the team took over.	5
19	Frem	Played mainly on Walters. Did well with the ball but conceded goals.	5
21	WAFL	21 possessions in Perth team hammered by 149 pts.	–
22	Coll	An important link player with Hurn and Waters not getting big numbers.	6
23	Haw	Quiet one from the normally productive defender/wingman.	4
EF	NM	Had job on Thomas and kept him goalless and out of the game.	7
SF	Coll	Solid without having significant impact	6