WRFL 2019: Sam Butler signs on with Division 1 club St Albans

WRFL Division 1 club St Albans has added a fourth former AFL player to its list as it chases its first finals appearance since 2014

Former West Coast Eagle Sam Butler is on his way to St Albans. Picture Sarah Reed

St Albans’ finals hopes have received a sizeable boost with AFL premiership player Sam Butler putting pen to paper with the WRFL Division 1 club.

Butler played 166 games for West Coast over 14 seasons at the top level and was a member of the club’s 2006 flag triumph.

The 33-year-old also featured in the Eagles’ 2005 and 2015 grand final teams but struggled with injury throughout his career, managing more than 15 appearances in only three seasons.

Butler, who retired at the end of 2017, is set to be available for the remainder of the Saints’ campaign.

The defender is the fourth former AFL player in St Albans’ squad, joining Josh Hill, Adem Yze and Darren Glass.

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Melbourne’s Adem Yze is also at St Albans

Hill and Yze have both played two games for the Saints this year, while Glass is yet to take the field.

“A long time friend of (coach) Perry Meka and Josh Hill, we are really ecstatic to have a player of Sam’s calibre playing for us,” St Albans president James Perkin said.

“Having guys like Sam, Josh Hill and Adem Yze playing for us this year has helped our young group to continue to learn and improve.

“We can’t wait to watch Sam running out in the red and the blue.

“It’s a huge credit to our football department and football manager Bill Asani, who continues to work tirelessly to make these things happen.”

Ex-West Coast midfielder Daniel Kerr also signed at St Albans two years ago before a change of jobs prevented him from fulfilling his commitment.

The club is enjoying a strong season in the top flight after claiming just four wins in each of the previous two seasons.

First-year coach Meka has guided the Saints to a 6-3 record at the halfway mark of the home-and-away campaign.

While they sit in sixth position, they are only one victory plus percentage off top position.

They have knocked off six-time reigning premier Deer Park and ladder-leader Altona in the past fortnight, underlining their improvement.

St Albans has not contested finals since 2014 and is fighting for a top-five berth with Altona, Spotswood, Werribee Districts, Hoppers Crossing and Deer Park.

The Saints will meet Point Cook at Kings Park Reserve on Saturday.

West Coast Eagle Darren Glass. Picture: Jackson Flindell.

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