WRFL 2020: Sam Butler and Josh Hill calling the shots at St Albans
An AFL premiership player will be calling the shots at a WRFL club this season, while his assistant also played 173 games at the top level. The pair are also set to take the field regularly in 2020 in a major boost.
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St Albans is hoping two former AFL players can lift the club into WRFL Division 1 finals this season.
Ex-West Coast defender and premiership player Sam Butler has been appointed coach of the Saints for 2020 and former Western Bulldogs and Eagles forward Josh Hill will serve as his assistant.
While the pair are not new faces at Kings Park, they will also be virtual recruits on the field this season in a major boost.
Butler played two games for the Saints last year after joining the club in June, while Hill has called time on his VFL career with Northern Blues after making four appearances in the WRFL in 2019.
The duo combined for 339 games at the top level and will be looking to steer St Albans into the top five after it finished in sixth position last season.
Saints football manager Bill Asani said there was “excitement in the air” with Butler at the helm.
And while the 2006 flag winner won’t be in the line-up every week, he is set to be a significant acquisition to a side not short on talent.
“He’s getting match fit now, he’s been doing pre-season with the boys and is doing a lot of extra sessions on a Saturday as well,” Asani said.
“He’s predominately going to be our coach, but he is also seriously doing the hard yards to play as many games as he possibly can.
“He will definitely be a guy you’ll see in the 22 on a regular basis, I would like to think.
“Josh Hill will be full-time with us in terms of playing, as well as an assistant coach.”
St Albans was a big improver in the top flight last season, claiming 10 wins after recording four victories in each of the previous two seasons.
Butler has replaced Perry Meka in the top job and takes charge of a team which knocked off grand finalists Deer Park and Altona last year.
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“He played with West Coast, which you would think are up there in terms of strategies and defensive mechanisms,” Asani said.
“He’s put a lot of that stuff into place with us during the pre-season.
“The boys love him, he’s a character and a good coach. He’s stern when he has to be and then he puts on the ‘player’ or ‘mate’ hat when he needs to.”
On the minus side, the Saints have lost Ben Said, who bagged 46 majors last season, with the classy forward crossing to Ballarat league club Darley.
“He’s going to be a massive loss in terms of his ability,” Asani said.
“He’s a great kid, well-liked around the footy club. He’s going to be lost to us, but he needed a change for various reasons.”
Gun midfielder Shylo Smith is set to move to the country, while Tom Donoghue (AFL Queensland), Sam Peet (Whittlesea), Lachlan Calder (East Keilor) and Nathan Wallace (Albanvale) have also moved on.
But the club has secured an impressive list of signings, with ex-VFL players Tom Pridgeon (Sandringham) and Ben Hurley (Northern Blues) putting pen to paper.
Pridgeon will bolster the midfield, while Hurley is likely to play at centre half-back.
Stephen Heppell, a former player with North Launceston in the Tasmanian State League, is another significant in and can fill a role as a key defender or full-forward.
Ben McManus (Keilor) and Nick Amourgis (UHS-VU) have also joined the club.
Asani said the Saints had improved their depth after injuries hurt them dearly in the latter part of last season.
“When we lost some players and lost a bit of momentum and drive because of it, our player stocks sort of diminished and we were playing some guys who were very lucky to play,” he said.
“We believe our depth is better for 2020.
“The other thing we think is going to make a big difference is the taller blokes. We’re not going to have key forwards from the opposition kick four or five and hurt us that way. We’ve got some good height now.
“We’ve got to play finals footy, that’s the bottom line.”
St Albans will face Altona in a Round 1 blockbuster on April 4.
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