WEST Coast premiership player Sam Butler has signed a one-year deal to remain at the Eagles for 2015.
The injury-plagued defender has played 120 matches in 11 seasons at the Eagles, including the 2006 premiership win.
He played just one match in the first 12 rounds this season but broke into the side in round 13, after a Luke Shuey was a late withdrawal against Gold Coast, and played the last 11 matches of the year.
Butler gathered a career-best 32 disposals in round 20 against Collingwood and has been rewarded for his consistent form in the second half of the season with a one-year contract extension.
"It's nice to have some clarity around what will happen in 2015," Butler said.
"I wasn't stressing about it during the year, I just concentrated on playing and focusing on doing my best.
"I didn't play every game this season, but I was available for every game and in those terms it was the best year of my career.
"I'm not entirely sure why that has happened, but I viewed myself as a new draftee in some respects. Over the last two or three years I have been able to produce good pre-seasons, building into my best pre-season this year."
Butler's season is not over despite West Coast failing to make the AFL finals. He will play for the club's WAFL affiliate East Perth in the WAFL finals series starting this week.
The Royals finished minor premiers after the home and away season and up to 12 Eagles-listed players will play for East Perth this week.
"Whenever you get the chance to play finals footy, you've got to take it," Butler said.
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
"The East Perth guys have treated us so well and with so many Eagles teammates playing I am really looking forward to it. Hopefully we can be successful."
