That’s how many of those from Darley describe Butters. A hard-working,tough young man with strong ties to his home town,and someone who just really,really loves footy.
“He’s a real likeable person,cheeky but pleasant and always good for a laugh,very hard-working and respectful,” Travis Edwards,who coaches the team’s under-19s,said.
And while Butters’ star is rising,his toughness on the field is old news for those who watched the youngster grow up. Scotland had heard about the talented kid always hanging around the club prior to taking up the coaching gig.
“That’s what really struck me immediately – he was a small kid,really,at that stage of his career he was playing with men,but was composed,very clean and had time,and just made excellent decisions with ball in hand,” Scotland said.
“He’s fierce,he’s competitive,he puts his body on the line and embraces the challenge.”
Selected at pick 12 by Port Adelaide in the 2018 draft,Butters was surprised when Port made the bid. The club hadn’t interviewed him in the lead-up to the draft. He later learnt it was a tactical move,to avoid other clubs learning of their interest in the midfielder.
Port legend Robbie Gray,who played 270 games and kicked 365 goals over his 16-year-career,had a lot to do with his drafting to the team. And after his retirement in August,he handed over his jersey number to Butters.
A country boy close to his family,Butters,at 18,struggled in his first year in Adelaide. But Hinkley,Gray and the club rallied around him,and he soon settled in.
There are frequent tales at Darley of the young boy who thrived and seemed to relish going head-to-head against the older men. And those tales ring true to those watching his playing style today.
Loading
Port teammate Connor Rozee said Butters set the standard for the team.
“He brings that intensity,not only in games,but in training. The coaches often have to tell him to slow down a couple steps because he’s cracking people that hard,” Rozee said in December on theSoda Roompodcast.
But as Butters becomes the talk of the AFL town,Lorissa Edwards,Travis Edwards and Scotland are more impressed by his character than his skill.
“He’s just never forgotten his pathway,the club he’s come from,he’s always been humble. We just say,‘he’s just the best’,” Lorissa Edwards said.