West Coast was well contained by an impressive Carlton line-up on Sunday afternoon - a fact that was backed up by the stats sheet.
Carlton led the way in tackles (73-53), disposals (324-226) and inside 50s (44-30) - all of which defied a West Coast side who managed to stay within touch for most of the match.
“The tackle count was probably one of the most disappointing stats that came out of the game,” Butler said.
“To be beaten by upwards of 20 tackles in the game… you’re not going to win too many games if you’re doing it like that.
“There is also a different way of looking at it, if they’re tackling us then we’ve got the ball in our hands in a lot of stoppages but to be beaten by that much is certainly disappointing.”
Butler also highlighted the Eagles' inability to hit targets at times as a vital point of difference between the two teams.
“We’ve been disappointed with our skills and I think that showed again today,” he said.
“Skills have been one of our focus areas, along with a lot of other things."
Sunday’s match marked Butler’s second since his return from a facial fracture and the 2006 premiership player continued to grow in confidence, picking up 14 possessions, eight of which were contested.
“It’s been good to get back playing with the boys, to have six weeks out was disappointing at the time but it’s something I couldn’t really control,” he said.
“To be back in the side and hopefully starting to be playing some better footy is good.”
And despite a mammoth task ahead against reigning premiers Geelong at Subiaco on Saturday, Butler said the side would treat the game as it would any other.
“You approach Geelong the same way you’d approach any side, you do your homework on them and go as hard as you can and hopefully we can get a win,” he said.
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