A 2017 premiership player at Richmond, Butler left Richmond for Moorabbin ahead of 2020 and promptly kicked 29 goals in that shortened season, earning All-Australian squad selection, the club's leading goalkicker award and the Ian Stewart Medal. Injury limited him to 6 matches in 2025, the year he joined St Kilda's leadership group for the first time. He has played 161 AFL games and kicked 178 goals.