Zak Butters has emphatically denied reports that he has told Port Adelaide teammates he will leave the club at season's end, following a match-winning performance in the Showdown against Adelaide.
Butters Denies Leak Claims
Speaking after Port's 26-point upset victory over arch-rivals Adelaide on Saturday night, Butters dismissed a report from ABC radio's Aaron Bryans that he had informed some teammates of his intention to return to Victoria.
“First of all, I don’t know Aaron,” Butters told reporters. “But I’d love to know where he gets his stuff from. But yeah, that hasn’t happened. So there you go, Aaron.”
Another Stellar Performance
Butters turned in a sensational best-afield display, collecting 37 disposals, 13 clearances, 11 inside 50s, and laying seven tackles against the Crows. The 25-year-old has won Port's club champion award for the past three seasons and is expected to claim another this year.
Contract Situation
Victorian-born Butters is out of contract at the end of the season and is considering some of the AFL's richest offers to return to his home state. The Western Bulldogs, Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Richmond, and Essendon are among clubs pitching for his services. Butters supported the Bulldogs as a child, fueling speculation that Luke Beveridge's club is the frontrunner.
However, Butters said being a one-club player is also attractive. “Most definitely,” he said. “I feel like the boys I’ve played with over the years, Boaky (Travis Boak), Ollie Wines, Brad Ebert, Justin Westhoff, like, yeah, there’s that side of it as well. And I’ve loved my time at the club and I love coming to the club every day, and my teammates now. Yeah, that is definitely a pull as well.”
Reflecting on Showdowns
Butters admitted the thought of Saturday night being his last Showdown for Port did cross his mind. “That’s just because I’m so grateful to play in Showdowns and for this footy club as well,” he said. “To be able to play and roll out there, I know I’ve got some close mates who are injured and missing, and (I am) just so grateful to be out there in the biggest moment and play footy and get the win as well. For me it’s just, if anything, just looking around and been being pretty grateful for the position I’m in and being able to do what I do.”
