The Power of One: Why Zak Butters is the player Port Adelaide can least afford to lose

A club hero has declared why Zak Butters should become Port Adelaide’s first $2 million man, writes Andrew Capel. Vote in the poll.

It’s not quite as simple as no Zak Butters, no Port Adelaide.

But it’s not far off.

For all the focus on Jason Horne-Francis’s antics in last Saturday’s hard-fought, nine-point win against North Melbourne, one Power player stood head and shoulders above the rest – the diminutive Butters.

The brilliant, 24-year-old midfielder rightly won the Peter Badcoe VC Medal in the Anzac Round game – awarded for displaying skill, courage in adversity, self sacrifice and teamwork.

While Horne-Francis displayed plenty of fire and brimstone, his midfield sidekick Butters was the real difference maker.

He had 27 disposals, including 13 contested, five clearances and 13 tackles, compiling a whopping 162 SuperCoach points – 44 more than any other Port player.

There is a key reason the Power has turned its season around after a troubling 1-3 start – the return from injury of its firestarter Butters.

When Butters missed the start of the season with a knee injury, Port stumbled out of the blocks.

An emotional Zak Butters celebrates Port Adelaide’s Round 5 win against Hawthorn. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Zak Butters shows off his latest medal, the Peter Badcoe VC Medal, after his best afield performance against North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

It was thrashed by Collingwood by 91 points in Round 1, beat a young and rebuilding Richmond by 72 points in Round 2 and then lost to an average Essendon side by 12 points in Round 3.

While the Power was upset at home by St Kilda by 17 points in Butters’ return game in Round 4, he was still regaining touch and match fitness, although he still shone with 30 disposals and nine clearances.

It is no coincidence that Port has reeled off three consecutive wins – upsets against Hawthorn and Sydney followed by the battle against the Kangaroos – since Butters has returned to the side and had a run under his belt.

The pocket rocket is the club’s best player and firestarter.

In his four games this season, Butters has averaged 29 disposals, seven clearances, eight tackles and 142 SuperCoach points.

Only one player has averaged more SuperCoach points this season – superstar Western Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli (143).

Butters’ statistics don’t include his intangibles, such as leadership, toughness, combativeness and ability to inspire his teammates to greater heights. He is incredibly brave, despite his small stature, and plays with the eye of the tiger.

He wears his heart on his sleeve and his epic “crazy eyes’’ reaction after the final siren following the Power’s upset Gather Round win against Hawthorn illustrated just what winning means to him.

Zak Butters breaks clear of North Melbourne’s Luke Davies-Uniacke during Port Adelaide’s Round 7 win at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Butters’ return has also enabled Port to shift captain Connor Rozee to half-back, where he has recaptured his best form and provided the defensive run and playmaking ability that had been missing since Dan Houston was traded to Collingwood in the off-season.

What has unfolded this year is further evidence that the Power simply cannot afford to lose Butters to a Victorian rival when his contract expires at the end of next season.

Port premiership ruckman Dean Brogan says Butters is so important to the Power that the club must do whatever it takes to keep him, including offering him the chance to be its first $2 million man.

“He is a superstar, a generational player, a freak, if he wants $2 million, you find it for him,’’ Brogan told ABC Grandstand.

“I think he is in the top three best players in the competition right now and he missed six weeks of footy (at the start of the season), he’s only been back for a few weeks.

“Port has to keep him, it just has to, it has to throw whatever it can at him to keep him.’’

Like Horne-Francis, Butters plays on the edge. His near-record $50,000 in AFL fines are testament to this.

But he displayed great leadership in trying to calm Horne-Francis down during the three-quarter time break of the clash against the Roos after the ‘Hornet’ lost the plot against his former club and his emotions spilt over, resulting in him getting a talking to by coach Ken Hinkley.

Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters drags down North Melbourne’s George Wardlaw at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Brogan believes losing Butters would also result in a less effective Horne-Francis and lesser performances from some other Port players.

“Horne-Francis plays so much better next to him (Butters),’’ Brogan said.

“The synergy that they have is very unique, which is another reason Port has to keep him.

“Butters demands that you play on the edge, like he plays on the edge, and the difference he has made to that football team since he has returned from injury has been amazing.

“If you pull him out of the team, if he does go, oh boy.’’

Victorian Butters, who was selected by Port at pick 12 at the 2018 AFL national draft from the Western Jets, already has a distinguished CV.

He is a dual All Australian and John Cahill Medallist as Port club champion (2023-24), was the AFL Coaches Association’s Champion Player of the Year in 2023, named the AFL Players’ Association’s Most Courageous Player Award in 2023-24 and been Power vice-captain for the past two years.

And, given his age, his best football should still be ahead of him.

Zak Butters breaks clear of Hawthorn’s Changkuoth Jiath during the Round 5 clash at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Zak Butters buries Kangaroo Tom Powell into the Adelaide Oval turf during Port’s nine-point Round 7 triumph. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

With 18 months remaining on his contract, Butters has been noncommittal about his future, although he admits he has a “big decision” to make.

“At the footy club, it doesn’t really get spoken about,” Butters said of his long-term future following Port’s win against the Roos.

“I feel like right now, for me, it’s about winning games of footy. When I came back into the team we probably weren’t in such a great spot.

“So my goal as a leader and a vice-captain was to help bring the team back to a better spot and get us into a better spot moving forward.

“It’s still 18 months away and it’s going to be a big decision. But right now, it’s probably not one that’s front of mind.’’

While his future remains clouded, the Power and its supporters will be on edge.

The team will be nowhere near as good without him, regardless of any compensation.

NUMBERS GAME

29

Sid Draper disposals for Adelaide’s SANFL team against Woodville-West Torrens in Round 4 on Sunday – two days after he played 22 minutes as a sub for the Crows’ AFL side against Fremantle.

100

SANFLW games played by South Adelaide’s Jaslynne Smith – the first player to reach the 100-game milestone in the league’s nine-year history.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“It’s like trying to cage a raging bull, it’s pretty tough at times.’’ – Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters on the passion teammate Jason Horne-Francis plays with.

“Unfortunately we didn’t bring our A-game and we’re really disappointed with what we put out there. We got a lot of areas wrong.’’ – Crows coach Matthew Nicks after the 18-point loss to Fremantle.