‘Treated the watergirl like trash’: Zak Butters slammed for ‘rude’ act

One of the Brownlow Medal favourites has been slammed for a petulant reaction, particularly after he ended up in the wrong.

Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters has been slammed for a petulant act, telling off a GWS Giants trainer and throwing her chair as he prepared for a set shot.

There was less than two minutes left in the second quarter with the Giants having run up a 9.11 (65) to 5.3 (33) lead when Butters marked about 35m out on the half-forward flank.

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But as he went back, the Giants trainer’s station was in his way.

She tried to help, putting the chair back against the fence, but Butters cleared the way.

It’s not an uncommon occurrence but as the Giants runner stood looking at him as he kept backing up, the umpire blew his whistle, yelling: “You’ve got to come forward a metre, that’s your line.”

Butters wasn't happy with the GWS runner. Photo: Fox Sports

Butter threw the chair out of the way. Photo: Fox Sports

Butters was told to move a metre forward. Photo: Fox Sports

To be fair with Butters, he went for the kick from where the chair was sitting, but it left a bad taste in fans’ mouths.

tough watch this, don’t rate that behaviour at all, a innocent gws water girl - never heard much of zak butters but he’s completely lost me on this one @AFL#AFL#giantsportpic.twitter.com/XyTOsZxpeP

— micky burton (@micky_burton) September 16, 2023

zak butters didn’t rate that,
treated that gws water girl like trash - off him

— micky burton (@micky_burton) September 16, 2023

Absolutely love seeing the #GWS water girl giving a bit of lip back to #ZakButters for throwing her equipment out of the way. 🤣#AFL#AFLFinals#AFLPortGiants

— rickpowell (@RickPowell13) September 16, 2023

Never had a reason to not like Zak Butters, but he’s just lost 100% of respect in 1 second. #AFLPowerGiants

— Harry Brown (@brownharry_8) September 16, 2023

Zak Butters complaining about a water girl too close to him. 🤣 #AFLPortGiants

— JTF (@jackthefont) September 16, 2023

Gee whizz, Zak Butters is a bit of a flog. #AFLPortGWS

— Dylan McEvoy (@DylanMcEvoy) September 16, 2023

Butters towards that GWS water girl. So rude and uncalled for 🤮 gross x #AFLPowerGiants

— Emma (@emt34160561) September 16, 2023

To make matters worse, he pushed the kick across the face of the goal for a behind.

Butters had a poor first half, with 10 disposals and the behind as well as three tackles and two marks.

But to be fair, he wasn’t alone as Port were outplayed in the first half.

Zak Butters has been slammed by fans. Photo: Fox Sports

At halftime, Adelaide great Mark Ricciuto was disappointed in Port Adelaide, calling them overly reliant on midfield stars Butters and Connor Rozee.

“They’ve been reliant on Connor Rozee and Zak Butters all season and today it’s caught up with them,” Ricciuto said from the sideline.

“Eight of the 10 top disposal winners are from GWS and if you win that much ball you’re going to have a day out.

“Port Adelaide are going to have to lift big time.”

The Giants dominated the second quarter in particular as the Giants “destroyed” the Power.

“They are stunned at the moment (Port Adelaide),” Darcy said.

“GWS are just in complete control of every part of their game.”

The bar is very high for Butters in 2023 as third in Brownlow Medal betting, sitting at $5.50 behind Collingwood’s Nick Daicos and the Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli.