Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters has issued a defiant response to a shock report that emerged on Saturday night regarding his future.
Butters continued his sterling run of form in Showdown 60 against the Crows, collecting 37 disposals, 13 clearances, nine score involvements and six intercepts to snatch best-on-ground honours.
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His sparkling performance came after ABC Sport broadcaster Aaron Bryans reported pre-game that the in-demand restricted free agent had told “some teammates” following Round 12 that he intended on heading home at year’s end.
Butters’ free agency call has been all the rage in the player movement space this year, with the 25-year-old Victorian widely expected to request a trade to a club in his home state at year’s end.
But while many believe the Western Bulldogs and Geelong lead the pack of clubs chasing his services, Butters strongly refuted Bryans’ report that his mind has been made up for weeks.
“First of all, I don’t know Aaron,” Butters said post-game on Saturday night.
“But I’d love to know where he gets his stuff from.
“But yeah, that hasn’t happened. So there you go, Aaron.”
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Speaking to Fox Footy’s Kath Loughnan post-game, a raw Butters admitted his future had been playing on his mind in the days leading up to what was expected to be his final Showdown.
“It definitely did (play on my mind). Whatever happens, happens at the end of the year,” he said.
“But what a crowd, and yeah, they are so special to play in these games.
“I love the footy club, love my teammates, and that win makes it extra special.”
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Collingwood and Richmond are among the clubs courting Butters, with the latter tabling an eight-year deal worth $18 million.
The brilliant midfielder confirmed in a midweek press conference that he wouldn’t publicise his free agency decision if he’d made it early.
“I’ve heard that (the concept of announcing offseason moves early) brought up a bit, and I’ve probably thought about it myself, but I just don’t think it’s the right way to go about it,” he said.
“The league’s probably not quite ready for it – I feel like if you look at the NRL, and the chaos it causes with contracts and player movement, I’d probably tend to stick away from it.
“I feel like how I’ve handled it and the club’s handled it has been pretty good, so I’ve been more than satisfied with where that’s been.”
Butters’ centre-bounce attendances sit at 81 per cent for the year, but sat at an average of 67.8 per cent between Rounds 11-15.
With the dynamic ball-winner spending some more time forward, it suggests that Josh Carr and his staff are getting a look at life post-Butters.