Australian Football

Latrobe’s Rod Butler was a solidly built and ultra competitive ruck-rover and defender who, with 324 senior appearances to his name between 1971 and 1985, is the club’s all time games played record holder. Voted club best and fairest in 1972 and 1979 there were few frills about his game but he was undeniably effective. He helped the Diehards to winning grand finals against East Devonport in 1971 and Burnie the following year. Both triumphs were achieved under the coaching of Tasmanian football legend Darrel Baldock. Although Butler never played for Tasmania, he represented the NWFU on numerous occasions, and his induction into AFL Tasmania’s Hall of Fame was eminently justified.

Author - John Devaney