David Buttifant (born 3 March 1964) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Richmond in the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1987. He was recruited from the Koroit Football Club in the Hampden Football League. He later played for Box Hill in the Victorian Football Association. He had previously worked with the Australian Olympic team. He has a PhD in sports physiology. In 2011, Malthouse and Buttifant authored the book The Ox Is Slow But The Earth Is Patient. He currently is the Head of Strength and Conditioning for in the VAFA.