Port ace to put footy over family in long-term decision
Steve Larkin |
Port Adelaide’s dual All Australian Zak Butters will put footy over family when deciding his long-term AFL future at season’s end.
Butters is under contract at Port until the end of the 2026 season but the Power and their rivals have already tabled multi-million dollar offers.
The Victorian-born dynamo, who has won the Power’s past two club champion awards, will weigh his options at the end of the season.
“I will go back and have a good think about it in the off-season,” Butters told reporters on Wednesday.
“When I probably get to sit down and actually think about things a bit more and you’re not in the hustle and bustle of footy and trying to win and trying to compete and trying to get better, you can sit back and think about it.
“And probably chat to a few people about it as well, but no particular timeline.”
Butters said the pull of his family in Melbourne wouldn’t outweigh football factors.
“There’s a number of things – family, friends … but the number one thing for me is footy,” the 24-year-old said.
“I am here to play footy, I am here to do that and footy is the top priority.
“Family is good, friends are good. But footy makes me most happy so that is always my top priority.
“Mum and dad pretty much just always say do what makes you happy … they’re not too fussed.”
Butters is averaging a career-high 27.73 disposals a game this year as pundits try and predict his future.
“There is a lot of noise about it … it is what it is,” he said.
“To be honest, I haven’t really thought about it too much lately. I think other people probably think about it more than I probably do.
“But right at the moment, the season is very much alive for us.
“I know we have to get a lot of things right and do a lot of good things but while it’s alive, it’s alive – and that excites me.
“I don’t think I am going to rush … it’s a big decision but I am committed and I am in (at Port).”
Butters said his values “align really well” with Port, who are in 12th spot ahead of coaching handover at season’s end from Ken Hinkley to Josh Carr.
“I have been lucky enough to be at this club for a while now and be part of some pretty successful teams,” Butters said.
“We probably haven’t got the pinnacle which I live and die by, I want to get there as quick as I can and be in that spot.
“But I have also been lucky to be in a very good team for a long time so I won’t forget that either.”
AAP
