Zak Butters, vice-captain of Port Adelaide, was recently captured playing a round of golf to cool off. He was joined by Essendon stars Darcy Parish and Sam Durham at The National Golf Club on Victoria’s Morning Peninsula. It’s true that the outing raised eyebrows, sparking debates on his future in the AFL. This is particularly true given his current contract stalemate with Port Adelaide.
Butters has just a year left on his contract. He’s set to hit free agency at the conclusion of the ‘26 season. His family connections to Victoria have brought some serious speculation about a possible homecoming. All of this comes as he weighs up a big-money long-term contract extension proposal from fellow Australian Rules side Port Adelaide with a term running through 2025. Jason Cripps, the head of list management at Port Adelaide, has reiterated that Butters this year is as strong as any and that he won’t be traded.
“Shouldn’t be worried at all, it’s a good golf course,” Butters said, addressing concerns raised by fans about his commitment to the team. He reassured supporters with his declaration: “I’m playing at Port next year, so I’m not going to comment.”
Even with this reassurance, the appetite on the ground in clubs across Victoria is eager. If Butters decides to explore his options in 2026, all ten Victorian clubs are expected to make a play for him. He would, most importantly, be able to demand a contract of at least $1.7 million per year for at least eight years.
Butters is tagging along on a study tour this week. He put in additional work overseas, spending time in Melbourne with Carlton development coach Torin Baker. His relationship with Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli caused a stir. Of course, only a few days ago, Bontempelli signed a new four-year extension at the Bulldogs.
He’s about to make a huge decision at this moment. I hope that he looks at our predicament and the football club as a whole as an environment where he would be able to see himself flourishing. Bontempelli stated regarding Butters’ future.
Jason Cripps reiterated the club’s intention to keep Butters long-term, emphasizing his importance as a player. “Zak is 100 per cent committed to the club and a super important player for our future,” he said. Cripps added, “We want Zak to be at the club for the next 10 years, and that will be our sole focus at the right time.”
