Sam Butler (footballer, born 2003)

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Sam Butler

| image =

| image_size = 200px

| caption =

| fullname = Samuel Butler

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|02|10|df=yes}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = GWV Rebels/Lake Wendouree Football Club

| draftpick = No. 23, 2021 national draft

| debutdate = Round 9, 2022

| debutteam = {{AFL Haw}}

| debutopponent = {{AFL Ric}}

| debutstadium = MCG

| height = 184 cm

| weight = 76 kg

| position = Forward

| currentclub = {{AFL Haw}}

| guernsey = 30

| years1 = 2022–

| club1 = {{AFL Haw}}

| games_goals1 = 22 (12)

| statsend = round 16, 2025

| careerhighlights =

}}

Sam Butler is a professional Australian rules footballer who currently plays for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is the younger brother of {{AFL StK}} player Dan Butler.

Early life and junior football

In 2017, Sam watched his brother Dan win the AFL Grand Final as a 14 year old, and has had work experience at {{AFL StK}} and {{AFL Ric}}.{{cite web |title=Butler emerging from bro's shadow after hit that smashed him in half |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/686252/butler-emerging-from-bro-s-shadow-after-hit-that-smashed-him-in-half- |website=AFL |access-date=24 May 2022}} Sam Butler played junior football for the Lake Wendouree Football Club and St Patricks College, Ballarat. At Lake Wendouree FC, (according to GameDay) he kicked 46 (documented) goals.{{cite web |title=GameDay – Sam Butler |url=http://maps.sportingpulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=192261053&client=0-6145-80344-528392-26466205 |website=GameDay |access-date=24 May 2022}} He then played for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the NAB League, where he made a name for himself to be a 'clean and clever utility who can play through the midfield or up forward'.{{cite web |title=Butler serves up more draft delight for Hawks |url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/1033566/butler-serves-up-more-draft-delight-for-hawks |website=Hawthorn FC |access-date=24 May 2022}} In the NAB League, he was ranked first out of all mid-forwards for tackles, contested possessions, and goals.{{cite web |last1=Lawless |first1=Ben |title=Draft Profile: Sam Butler |url=https://www.zerohanger.com/draft-profile-sam-butler-94514/ |website=zerohanger |access-date=24 May 2022}} At the Vic Country Draft Combine, he put AFL clubs on notice when he recorded the quickest 20m sprint time (2.97 seconds) and came second in the running (87 cm) and standing (71 cm) vertical jump. At 18 years of age, Sam Butler was expected to be drafted by Richmond (pick 15), Fremantle (pick 19), Geelong (pick 22), or Carlton (pick 25). However, he was drafted by Hawthorn with pick 23 in the 2021 NAB AFL draft.{{cite web |title=Butler serves up more draft delight for Hawks |url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/1033566/butler-serves-up-more-draft-delight-for-hawks |website=Hawthorn FC |access-date=24 May 2022}}

AFL career

Before making his AFL debut, Butler played 5 matches for the Box Hill Hawks at VFL level. During those games, he kicked 5 goals and 3 behinds, averaged 11.6 disposals, and scored 269 fantasy points, with an average of 53.8.{{cite web |title=VFL Stats – Sam Butler |url=https://vfl.aflmstats.com/player/Sam_Butler1 |website=VFL Stats |access-date=24 May 2022}} While Butler was playing during that period, the Hawks won 3 out of 5 games.{{cite web |title=VFL Stats – 2022 season scores |url=https://vfl.aflmstats.com/season/2022#3 |website=VFL Stats |access-date=24 May 2022}} After earning his spot in the side due to a strong performance in the VFL against [https://www.essendonfc.com.au/teams/vfl Essendon], he was called up to AFL level. He made his debut in round 9 against Richmond FC at the Melbourne Cricket Ground,{{cite web |title=Hawthorn FC – Butler Beaming for Debut |url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/1123731/butler-beaming-for-debut |website=Hawthorn FC |access-date=24 May 2022}} where he could not impact the scoreboard, after being denied a goal by an immense defensive effort from fellow debutant Bigoa Nyuon.{{cite web |title=Richmond debutant's family delighted after he stops Hawks first-gamer's first goal |url=https://www.theroar.com.au/afl/video/richmond-debutants-family-delighted-after-he-stops-hawks-first-gamers-first-goal-1197126/ |website=The Roar |access-date=24 May 2022}} However, Sam was able to retain his place in the side for round 10, where Hawthorn played the Brisbane Lions in Launceston. Sam was beneficial to a Hawks victory, scoring 2 goals and more than doubling his fantasy score.{{cite web |title=AFL Stats – Sam Butler |url=https://aflmstats.com/player/Sam_Butler1 |website=AFL Stats |access-date=24 May 2022}}

Statistics

Updated to the end of round 16, 2025.{{cite web |title=Sam Butler |url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/S/Sam_Butler1.html |website=AFLTables |access-date=2 June 2022}}

| 2022 || {{AFL Haw}} || 30

| 9 || 6 || 5 || 42 || 34 || 76 || 16 || 15 || 0.7 || 0.6 || 4.7 || 3.8 || 8.4 || 1.8 || 1.7

| 2023 || {{AFL Haw}} || 30

| 8 || 6 || 2 || 34 || 49 || 83 || 22 || 18 || 0.8 || 0.3 || 4.3 || 6.1 || 10.4 || 2.8 || 2.3

| 2024 || {{AFL Haw}} || 30

| 2 || 0 || 0 || 7 || 3 || 10 || 6 || 3 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 3.5 || 1.5 || 5.0 || 3.0 || 1.5

| 2025 || {{AFL Haw}} || 30

| 3 || 0 || 2 || 21 || 21 || 42 || 5 || 14 || 0.0 || 0.7 || 7.0 || 7.0 || 14.0 || 1.7 || 4.7

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career

! 22 !! 12 !! 9 !! 104 !! 107 !! 211 !! 49 !! 50 !! 0.5 !! 0.4 !! 4.7 !! 4.9 !! 9.6 !! 2.2 !! 2.3

Honours and achievements

Team

McClelland Trophy ({{AFL Haw}}): 2024

References

External links

{{Hawplayer}}
{{AFL Tables}}
{{AustralianFootball}}

Category:Hawthorn Football Club players

Category:Box Hill Football Club players

Category:Greater Western Victoria Rebels players

Category:2003 births

Category:Living people

Category:People educated at St Patrick's College, Ballarat

Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)

Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen