Port Adelaide star Zak Butters is set to come under MRO scrutiny for a high bump on Bailey Banfield in Saturday’s 66-63 win over Fremantle at the Adelaide Oval.
The bump occurred in the dying minutes of the clash with both players trying to win a loose ground ball.
Banfield was standing over the footy as Butters flew in and turned his body to gather the footy. As Butters turned to pick up the ball, his hip collected Banfield in the face causing the Docker to hit the deck.
Is Zak Butters in trouble for this bump late in the match against Bailey Banfield?
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While Banfield didn’t receive a free kick after the high contact, Butters still faces a nervous wait given that the impact was above the shoulder.
As Banfield played on after the collision, Kane Cornes would be disappointed if the Power star was banned as he thinks that the incident was simply one that occurs in a collision sport. He also described Butters’ technique as perfect in terms of gathering the ball.
He discussed Butters’ nervous wait with Riley Beveridge on AFL.com.au’s The Round So Far.
Beveridge: “You mention Zak Butters, he was awesome in the last quarter, but this moment with just a couple of minutes remaining where he cleans up Bailey Banfield…
“Is there anything to worry about here? He is going to be one of the Brownlow Medal favourites.”
Cornes: “He comes in and we’ll get another look at it here, but I think he has got hands on the football.
“That’s the perfect technique.
“Yes, it’s forceful. Yes, it’s aggressive. But he’s an aggressive player and the game was on the line.
“They’ll definitely look at it, but I would be really disappointed (if he got banned).
“We’ve seen some other ones … Matt Crouch had a similar one where they turn their body and actually win the ball and get their hands on the ball with great technique.
“Yes, they get the opposition high, but it’s a collision game and from time to time that is going to happen.
“I’d be disappointed if Zak Butters had a case to answer there.”
Butters finished the game with one goal, 24 disposals and nine tackles.
A one-game ban would see the midfielder rubbed out of Brownlow contention as well as missing the Power’s Round 6 clash against Collingwood at the MCG.
