Zak Butters trade rumours dominate Port Adelaide's turbulent season

analysis

By Aaron Bryans

Topic:AFL

Zak Butters wants to move to a team in Victoria. (ABC News: Ben Pettitt)

It has been a chaotic year for Port Adelaide.

Coach Josh Carr had to work with a new system while many players were injured; he used 39 of the 44 players on the list and ended the season with 15 unavailable.

He also needed to build teamwork and confidence even though a contract issue loomed over his season.

Vice‑captain Zak Butters, a two‑time All‑Australian, has been the main story all year as a top free‑agent; he now admits the long‑kept secret that he wants a trade to Victoria.

"I have decided to go home. I have thought about it for a long time. It was a hard choice and I did not take it lightly," Butters said on Monday.

"I loved my time in Adelaide, but I think I am at a point where I want to be near family and friends again."

Butters said he never told anyone in June that he wanted to move east after a visit home during the round 12 break; this adds another update to the story about his future as a dual Showdown medal winner.

Why did the club protect Butters so much when he was ready to leave?

There are two main parts of any deal in any business: value and relationships.

Growing speculation

As weeks went on, the race between Richmond, Geelong, Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs got tighter, turning into a public bidding war that raised Butters’ contract offers and gave the Power more power in trade talks.

Every story has a source … and every source has an agenda.

Port Adelaide midfielder Zak Butters told the club he wants to return to Victoria.

Agents try to raise demand while clubs want to get a high price for their star players.

Relationships between the two sides are very important for future deals. Clubs try to balance fair payment with long‑term goodwill.

Two years ago Port Adelaide faced a similar case when Dan Houston wanted to go to Collingwood but the Magpies could not pay enough.

Port Adelaide received picks 13, 29 and 36 plus forwards Jack Lukosius and Joe Richards for its dual All‑Australian defender and a future first‑round pick.

The deal was criticised then, but it has not hurt much because the Power later drafted key forward Jack Whitlock at pick 29 and Joe Richards is becoming a useful midfielder.

Dan Houston’s case is not the same as Zak Butters’ case.

Port Adelaide hopes to get many draft picks by moving its triple best‑and‑fairest winner, as it rarely has early picks and needs more young talent.

The club also has many academy and father‑son prospects it must match, such as likely number‑one pick Dougie Cochrane and Zemes Pilot.

Matthew Richardson talked about the Butters trade rumours in May. (ABC News: Marco Catalano)

In May, Port chief executive Matthew Richardson told ABC Sport that the club would match any offer for Butters because he is a restricted free agent.

"There will be offers we can match and we will match them. That gives the club some control over what happens," he said.

The problem is that the clubs interested in Butters have different pick options, and Richmond’s offer does not match the value Butters said he wanted when I asked him in March what would decide his move.

"I think you are foolish if you do not want to win premierships," he said.

"I want to win. Family matters too … but you cannot think only about the future."

THE CONTENDERS (All four clubs have all future picks available according to the current ladder)

While Port deals with 20 out‑of‑contract players it has held back because of Butters, coach Josh Carr will have time to think about his first season as head coach.

Season highlights

Even though four teams missed the finals, the Power won seven games in 2026 and kept a clear story throughout; they could match the best but rarely beat them.

Their season ended with five losses by five points or less and eight losses by up to 14 points.

A Showdown win over Adelaide in June was the highlight, plus an April upset over Geelong; their only road wins were against fellow bottom‑four teams West Coast and Richmond.

They finished 16th in ball movement from D50 to F50, but were strong defensively until the last month when 10‑point losses to the Lions, Swans and Demons raised their average points against to 89, dropping them from a top‑4 side to 10th.

A positive was their clearance work. Even without Connor Rozee for most of the season and Zak Butters for the last month, they were second in clearance differential, developing future stars Jase Burgoyne, Joe Richards and Miles Bergman on the ball.

Port Adelaide won seven games in the 2026 season. (ABC Riverland: Catherine Heuzenroeder)

From a list view it was the only team without a player in the AFL’s 22‑under‑22 squad and long‑term signings from the Hinkley era like Todd Marshall and Brandon Zerk‑Thatcher played little.

Former Port midfielder and four‑time Showdown medalist Josh Francou says 2026 was a lucky break for Josh Carr.

"It was a hard season … their defence is a real strength but they struggle to move the ball," he said.

"Next year things will ramp up for Josh Carr and he must get it right."

Even with many problems, it feels like Josh Carr has built a base for success, but a crucial off‑season is needed as he reshapes the list and keeps his stars healthy for 2027.

Practice Listening