Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
St Kilda’s season-ending match against Gold Coast is a long way from a dead rubber for forward Dan Butler.
Carlton’s draw last Sunday killed off the last faint hope the Saints had of making the wildcard round. But the day before, Butler had returned to the senior side and kicked two goals in their win over Richmond.
It was only his ninth senior game this season after managing just six last year, and the 30-year-old is about to come out of contract.
So Butler has plenty to play for on Thursday night at Marvel Stadium.
“I’m still waiting to see. I do want to keep going, but I haven’t played a lot of footy this year, my body has let me down a little bit,” Butler told AAP.
“So I’m still trying to find my best footy and obviously getting back on the park in the AFL will help that.
“I’ve had a tough few years with my body and stuff, but coming into (Richmond), I really wanted to enjoy it being back out at the ‘G, and let that flow back into my footy.”
Butler says it’s always a little weird playing against Richmond, given he was in their drought-breaking 2017 premiership side before joining the Saints at the end of 2019.
Last Saturday was also a big day for the Tigers with Dion Prestia and Nathan Broad playing their last games.
“Against the old mob, for Broady and Dion’s last game, it was a really special moment,” Butler said.
“Every time I play Richmond, I just love it, because I have so many great friends still playing there – a lot of them in the backline as well, so I always have a bit of a laugh.”
Regardless of their dashed finals hopes, Butler said it was crucial St Kilda ended the season with a couple of solid wins.
“That’s what Ross (coach Ross Lyon) spoke about, we have to make the last two rounds count,” he said.
A big highlight of the Richmond win was fellow forward Mitch Owens kicking a career-best five goals.
“The thing about Mitch, he just works so hard during the week. He was elevated to the leadership group this year and he’s on-field toughness, his ability to lead the group, has come a long way,” Butler said.
On Wednesday, St Kilda announced defender Dougal Howard will end his 144-game career on Thursday night.
Howard played 45 games for Port Adelaide before starting at the Saints in 2020 – the same season as Butler.
