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 told AFL.com.au.
"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."
Butler, 30, is the only member of the Eagles' 2006 premiership side still playing. His premiership teammates gathered for their 10-year reunion at the round 15 clash with Essendon. Butler described running out to play through a guard of honour provided by his retired premiership teammates as "weird".
The South Australian was recruited with pick No.20 in the 2003 NAB AFL Draft. Fremantle skipper David Mundy was recruited with pick No.19 and is just six games shy of reaching 250.
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."
Butler's premiership teammate Beau Waters was full of admiration for his close friend’s perseverance.
"He's just got everything out of himself that he can," Waters said.
"He's had a few hurdles along the way and for him to still be integral part of the side that played in the Grand Final last year is testament to how much time and energy he invests in everything outside of being on the field.
"From his rehab and diet to stretching, he's left no stone unturned. I think there would be a lot of other players that would've left the game a lot earlier or decided that it was too hard."
Sam Butler and Chad Fletcher celebrate a famous flag in 2006. Picture: AFL Media
Butler's career was also at the crossroads in 2014. Following the resignation of long-time coach John Worsfold, Butler found himself outside Adam Simpson's first-choice 22 at the start of the year.
Eagles development coach Adam Selwood, another of Butler's premiership teammates, said his team-first attitude during that time was phenomenal.
"His attitude the whole time was always positive," Selwood said.
"He felt if it was going to be his last year, he wanted to lead by example and show young guys how to go about their footy, and through that attitude he's been able to get himself back in the best 22 and be a really integral part of the side."
Simpson said Butler was an example for young players to follow.
"He understood where he was at and never once did he question or complain about his position in the side," Simpson said.
"He knows he needs to play well to hold his spot, regardless of his age or experience. When you've got players like that, the younger players see it and they grow off that."
Butler said he could continue to improve both this year and beyond. He continues to play on one-year contracts and both Selwood and Waters think he can keep going.
But regardless of when he finishes, his legacy at the club is assured.
"He's just the ultimate clubman," Selwood said.
"It's 150 games and some people might look at his career at the end of it and say he only played 180 but he was around forever.
"But he's made the games count rather than just clock up a lot of matches with nothing to show for it."
