AFL news: Knee surgery to sideline Port Adelaide star Zak Butters for start of season

Zak Butters will miss the start of the AFL season after sustaining a heavy knock to his knee in Port’s practice match against Adelaide.

Port Adelaide star Zak Butters will miss the start of the season with the Power’s vice-captain to go under the knife after hurting his knee.

The two-time All-Australian reported soreness after sustaining a heavy knock to his knee during the Power’s practice match against Adelaide on Friday.

Scans have shown bone bruising from the impact and the 24-year-old will undergo a knee arthroscopy this week to inspect the joint surface and investigate the extent of the injury.

While there are no long-term concerns, he will miss the start of the season for the Power with a timeline for his return to become clearer following the procedure.

Zak Butters will miss the start of the season. Picture: Getty Images

If something is found in the arthroscope then it is expected it would add a couple of weeks to whatever Butters’ timeline to return to action would be.

It adds to injuries to key defensive duo Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Esava Ratugolea and tall forward Todd Marshall.

Ratugolea is in a race against time to feature in Round 1 against Collingwood at the MCG after he had knee surgery of his own to trim his meniscus.

Zerk-Thatcher is expected back around Round 5 after he suffered a back injury while it is unclear whether Marshall will play any footy in 2025 after he ruptured his Achilles tendon during training.