“Concerning”: AFLPA says Tribunal got Butters guilty verdict wrong

The AFL Players’ Association is unhappy with the AFL Tribunal’s decision to find Zak Butters guilty of umpire abuse.

AFLPA CEO James Gallagher has said as much after Port Adelaide’s Butters was fined $1500 for abusive, insulting, threatening or obscene language towards or in relation to umpire Nick Foot.

The AFLPA chief has an issue with the guilty verdict given Butters was so adamant he said nothing untoward.

Asked by Tom Morris on SEN Mornings if the Tribunal got it wrong, Gallagher said: “I think, yeah.

“We’re really disappointed with the outcome, there's no doubt about that.

“It would seem pretty clear that there's been a misunderstanding here. I know I certainly have misheard many things in my life.

“I think it was pretty clear when watching the footy on Sunday night, there was Zak and Ollie (Wines) were obviously mystified at why a 50-metre penalty had been paid.

“Zak obviously did an interview immediately post-game, he didn't know at that point in time what the allegations were, and he was pretty clear about what he'd said. Then Zak and Ollie obviously gave that evidence again last night.

“I hear the point that there were some slight discrepancies, but these guys are playing a highly competitive game of football, and when it's come out of Zak’s mouth, he's not thinking anything of it, because he knows he hasn't done anything wrong.

“So I think for a Tribunal to be confident enough to find that all of those things don't point to the fact that the words weren’t said, really disappointed.

“Unfortunately the weight of evidence which was in his favour doesn't seem to have carried the day here and that's concerning.”

Is Butters worried that he will now be perceived as a liar?

“I think anytime a person gives evidence, and it's not accepted, that sort of cuts quite deeply,” Gallagher added.

“I know Zak well enough, I know Ollie well, these are guys that are you know really highly revered and true to their word. I don't think anyone's ever doubted that and for the first time that's happened.

“I don't think that's a good thing for all of us.”

Gallagher would have liked it if Butters and Foot were able to come together to sort out the situation before it was sent to the Tribunal.

“Certainly our view is - put the Tribunal decision to one side - it shouldn't have got there,” he added.

“It should have been dealt with in the aftermath of the game, whether that's straight after in the next day, it just should have been navigated.

“The interested parties should have come together.

“Whether he can't speak to him on game day, there's ways and means to get around those things. They could have been brought together.

“I understand there was efforts to probably try and do that. I think that should have just been made to happen.”

Will the AFLPA help Port Adelaide with any possible appeal?

“They’ll consider it. It’s hard without having seen the reasons,” he said further.

“I spoke to both Zak and Matthew Richardson last night and I made it really clear that they’re going to have great legal support but if there’s anything our team can do to help them, we will.

“I expect our guys will have a look at the reasons today and form some thoughts, and if they’ve got some ideas about ways to appeal then we’ll certainly play that role.”