The AFL Players’ Association says the dismissal of Zak Butters and Ollie Wines’ tribunal evidence is “deeply concerning” while hinting at players’ general lack of confidence in the current system.

Butters on Tuesday night was handed a $1500 fine by the tribunal after being found guilty of verbally abusing umpire Nick Foot during the Power’s loss to St Kilda on Sunday night.

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Foot alleged Butters said to him “how much are they paying you?” after a contentious free kick was awarded to St Kilda, with Foot taking that as a suggestion he was being paid by the Saints and a shot at his integrity.

Butters insisted, both post-game on Sunday and under cross-examination on Tuesday night he’d said “surely that’s not a free kick”, with his case backed up by nearby teammate Wines.

Razor reacts to Butters fine | 03:39

Port Adelaide chair David Koch on Wednesday morning said he’s “pretty certain” the club would appeal the decision to uphold Butters’ umpire abuse fine.

“We will get their findings this morning and work out whether to appeal, I’m pretty certain we will,” Koch told FIVEaa.

“Zak is a competitor but he’s one of the nicest blokes you could ever meet,” Koch said.

“He’s incredibly angry with the outcome.

“He quite rightly believes he’s been dubbed a liar in all this.

“The bloke has enormous pride and integrity of his values.

“His family, his mum and dad, are equally as devastated and angry.”

In a statement, AFLPA chief executive James Gallagher said his organisation was “deeply disappointed” by the tribunal outcome.

“A misunderstanding about what was said on field should have been resolved in the aftermath of the match, not referred to the Tribunal,” Gallagher said.

“The Tribunal determining not to accept all of the evidence consistent with Zak’s version of events, including testimony of Zak’s teammate Ollie Wines, nor have sufficient doubt when upholding a charge is deeply concerning.

‘I know what I said and what I didn’t!’ | 00:40

“In the off-season, we made it clear to the AFL that we would closely monitor the Tribunal’s decisions during 2026 given concerns raised by players in recent seasons. It is important that all participants in the game, but most importantly the players, have confidence in the disciplinary system to which they’re subjected.

“We’ve offered our full support to Zak and Port Adelaide in exploring their options to appeal.”

Koch shared Gallagher’s viewpoint.

“We put up a witness from the league’s best and fairest, but the decision took none of that into account and seemed to focus on semantics,” Koch said.

Butters provided a short statement after the finding outside Alberton Oval on Tuesday evening.

“I’m clearly disappointed with the result tonight,” he said.

“I stand by knowing what I said and what I didn’t say, especially what I didn’t say.

“I’d like to thank the club for their support.”

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