Zak Butters has been linked to the likes of the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood Magpies, Richmond Tigers and Hawthorn Hawks, but he doesn’t think the footy world is ready for NRL-style player movement
Steve Larkin
Zak Butters says the AFL is not ready for NRL-style honesty over player movements as he weighs offers to become his team’s richest player.
Port Adelaide’s stand-in captain says he is determined not to decide his future until the end of the season but laughs off some reported offers.
Butters believes the AFL environment is not yet equipped for NRL scenarios where some players have announced their decision to switch clubs during the season.
“I don’t think this is the right way to go,” Butters told reporters Tuesday.
“I feel like [AFL] The league probably isn’t ready for this.
“When you look at the NRL and the chaos that comes with contracts, player movements and things like that, I would probably tend to stay away from it.”
Butters has repeatedly said he will not make his decision until his contract with Port expires at the end of the season.
“Obviously the tours are now counting down towards the end of the season, so it’s getting closer and closer to the end of the season,” he said.
“But from my perspective nothing has really changed.
“However, I will make my decision at the end of the year and sit down with the club and my manager.”
The Western Bulldogs, which Victorian-born Butters supported as a child, are frontrunners for the AFL’s most sought-after signing.
Perennial contenders Geelong, a constant target of some of the league’s biggest names, are also lurking.
Hawthorn, Collingwood, Melbourne, Essendon and Richmond have also expressed interest in the 25-year-old player, who has won Port’s club championship award in the last three seasons and is likely to win a fourth this year.
Rumor has it the bids are the highest in AFL history; Richmond is said to be worth around $18 million over eight years; That’s an eye-watering $2.25 million per season.
“For me… 99 percent of the time you laugh it off, that’s what it is,” Butters said of the speculation.
Bulldogs boss Luke Beveridge is among the coaches who have spoken openly about luring Butters and the comments have angered Port.
Strength coach Josh Carr recently dissected Beveridge’s recent comments about Butters and said Port cannot operate that way.
“This is something I really can’t control,” Butters said.
“But I think Josh probably said it pretty well, that we wouldn’t do that at our football club, he wouldn’t talk about those types of players either – and that’s something I respect Josh for.”
Port won’t give up on keeping Butters just yet but will push for a trade if he leaves, vowing to match any offer for the restricted free agent.
“I think you all [media] Talk more about it than me,” Butters said.
“When I’m around my friends and family, they don’t talk about it much.
“And the football club was great, my coaches, my team-mates, my staff, I can’t fault the football club in the slightest and I think that’s why I love playing football there and working there.
“For me, I’m a 25-year-old kid still trying to get better at football, so it’s pretty simple.”
Butters said even if he had made a decision, he wouldn’t announce it until after the season.
AAP
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