Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters set to miss an extended period after knee surgery
Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters had already been ruled out for the start of the season – but his stint on the sidelines is now expected to be a lot longer.
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Port Adelaide is confident Zak Butters’ injury will not derail the start to their season.
The Power was dealt a massive blow after learning Butters, the winner of the club’s past two best-and-fairest awards, would miss the next six to eight weeks.
The vice-captain was already going to miss the start of the season but after having a loose body in his knee tidied up during arthroscopic surgery, Butters’ recovery period has been extended.
Port opens its season against Collingwood at the MCG in a fortnight before matches against three non-finalists from last year – Richmond (home), Essendon (away) and St Kilda (home).
Then Ken Hinkley’s side faces finals rematches versus Hawthorn (home) and Sydney (away).
Power assistant Chad Cornes said the club was still really positive about how it was placed entering the campaign despite the news.
“There’s no doom and gloom about it,” Cornes said.
“Yes, it hurts you a little bit to hurt Buttsy, but it always gives an opportunity for someone else to step up.
“He’ll get on with business and be attacking his rehab as best as anyone would or could.
“He was a little down when he heard the news, but he’s a pretty positive guy who wants to get the best out of himself.
“He had the operation yesterday and it went well.
“He’ll do everything right in the rehab and might even surprise us and get back a little earlier.”
Butters got through last Friday’s pre-season loss to Adelaide in Mount Barker but his knee “blew up a bit afterwards”, according to Cornes.
“That’s where the concern started,” he said.
Cornes said Willem Drew would ramp up his minutes with Butters missing, while Jackson Mead would feature more on a wing.
Originally published as Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters set to miss an extended period after knee surgery
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