AFL
2 hours ago
Trade mayhem: Port boss reveals plan to keep Butters
By SEN
Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson has lifted the lid on how the club will handle the relentless speculation over the future of Zak Butters this year.
Butters, 25, is out of contract this year and will be the target for several Victorian clubs including the Western Bulldogs, Geelong, Essendon and Hawthorn, among others.
Many are forecasting the three-peat John Cahill Medallist will depart Alberton later this year - including former Port assistant Chad Cornes who is 99 per cent convinced he is out the door.
So what plans has the club got in place to handle the distraction?
“Zak is a star I do think the story will be big outside the club,” Richardson told Sportsday. “Inside the club these things are less so.
“Our focus has to be on creating a program that provides all out players the opportunity to perform at their best.
“If you do that then those decisions take care of themselves. It’s a big decision for Zak it’s about more than footy. Our approach is about the program and the people.
“I think you have to know the people really well. Josh has built a strong relationship with Zak, our approach is to leave the decision to them, and you focus on the things you can control.”
Butters will become a restricted free agent at season’s end and has a massive decision to make given his standing in the game as one of the very elite midfielders.
Despite remaining contract uncertainty, Port has reinstated trust in Butters, granting him the vice-captaincy alongside Willem Drew ahead of the 2026 season.
Club captain Connor Rozee insists he has full faith in his teammate ahead of a crucial year for the club.
“I think that sort of stuff gets blown out of proportion outside of the footy club,” Rozee told SEN Breakfast last week. “We know that he is fully invested for this year.
“We will get to the end of the year or whenever that stuff gets sorted out and they will have to talk through that, but at the moment our playing group has full trust in him, that he is here for the right reasons.
“He is a great role model for all of our younger players as well, so I’m really excited to have him as a part of the leadership group again.”
