Latest news with #ZakButters
News.com.au
07-08-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Hawks ‘all in' on landing superstar duo Harley Reid and Zak Butters
Hawthorn is 'all in' on West Coast's Harley Reid and Port Adelaide's Zak Butters this year, according to Nine's Tom Morris, as the club looks to make a big splash. Reid isn't out of contract until next year, but Morris has previously reported the former No. 1 pick will either sign an Eagles extension or seek a trade to a Victorian club — not go into 2026 on an expiring deal. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Reid's management has reportedly made a counter offer to West Coast in the vicinity of $24 million over 10 years — a two-year deal until 2027 then a nine-year extension — with the Hawks, Bombers and Cats among the rival clubs most consistently linked to the 20-year old. Meanwhile, Butters isn't a free agent until next year and is expected to see out his contract with the Power, before the Victorian makes a call on his future. However Morris revealed that hasn't deterred Hawthorn from making a push for the superstar midfielder, with the Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera call looming in the background as a potential way in for a Butters trade. 'Hawthorn is all in on both (Reid and Butters),' Morris said on Footy Classified. 'The answer back on Zak Butters so far is no. It's not stopping the Hawks having a crack. They're going to keep having a go. 'In the understanding that, if Wanganeen-Milera gets to Port, maybe there might be half a chance for Butters to go. 'That's one to keep an eye on this trade period.' Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell spoke out about rumours surrounding the club's interest in Reid last month. 'I saw the word obsessed and I went in the next day and I said to a couple of list guys, 'Are we obsessed with Harley Reid?' and then I saw some of the numbers that were getting thrown up and I said 'What is happening here?' And they're like 'just don't even read the papers',' Mitchell said on SEN's Fireball. 'He's obviously a good player but he's contracted to West Coast and he's having a pretty good year. A bit like 'Daysy' getting sat on in his first game back, it's a bit like, 'oh', I mean this 20-year-old is getting sat on most weeks now. He's a good player.' With the largest deal ever seen in AFL history reportedly on the table, Mitchell said the financial side of it would be difficult for the club. 'With our midfield as an example, being pretty workman-like and making sure that we're consistent across the board. If you're putting $2 million into one player, that makes it a little bit more difficult of course,' he said.
News.com.au
24-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Luke Beveridge happy for players to publicly recruit opposition players to the Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is happy for his players to publicly court recruiting targets, including Port Adelaide star Zak Butters, but he won't be joining in. The premiership coach's call came as Beveridge declared his team's defensive weaknesses were not as bad as critics have suggested, pointing to it as a historical strength with the 'reality' of needing to win every game to play finals ever present. Newly re-signed Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli this week singled out Butters, who will become a free agent at the end of the 2026 season and grew up as a Bulldogs supporter, as someone he'd like to join him at the Kennel. 'I love watching him as a footballer,' Bontempelli said, declaring as captain he felt getting involved in luring players to the club was part of his role. 'If we happen to end up in the same team, I'd be pretty happy about that too.' Beveridge said he wouldn't try to curtail his players making such desires public but wouldn't go 'over the top' himself despite recently confessing to conversations with Gold Coast star Matt Rowell before he stayed loyal to the Suns. 'I can't stop our players talking about who they would like to have as teammates,' he said on Thursday. 'But I've got a personal approach, I spoke about Matt Rowell because I knew he was going to re-sign at Gold Coast, it wasn't like a public overture. 'But as far as a player like Zac, who every club has a great opinion of, I don't want to be over the top with anything in regards to him. He's still contracted, the ball is in Port Adelaide's court. 'But I can't stop our players expressing their desire.' The Bulldogs are chasing their tails to make the finals having beaten only one team above them on the ladder, with questions raised about their defensive deficiencies against the top teams. Beveridge conceded it was an area of improvement but said the systems were in place – it was just about execution – and could be corrected enough to get them the wins they need, starting with a Friday night showdown against Essendon. 'It's interesting, and sometimes little history lessons are important,' Beveridge said at his weekly press conference. 'If I asked you who was the best defensive team on aggregate, so conceding the least amount of points going into last year's finals series, do you know who it was? It was us. We were the best defensive team going into the finals last year. 'Has our philosophy and my philosophy and how we coach and teach the defensive system changed? Absolutely not. 'The execution is the responsibility of all of us. 'We weren't the best offensive team last year, but we are this year, so that's encouraging. 'You need a healthy blend and against the more high achieving teams, they have been able to score too heavily. 'We know we can improve. We seek that out.'
The Advertiser
13-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Butters brilliant in Port's comeback win over Eagles
More midfield mastery from Zak Butters has inspired fast-finishing Port Adelaide to a comeback 26-point win over a plucky West Coast. The Power trailed by 33 points in the opening quarter before rallying to a 12.15 (87) to 9.6 (61) victory at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. Butters, whose 38 disposals featured 14 in the first term, was brilliant as Port booted the last five goals of the game to triumph. The Power, who lost captain Connor Rozee to a hand injury, kicked the opening goal of the match but didn't hit the front again until early in the final term. West Coast produced their highest-scoring quarter under first-year coach Andrew McQualter, booting 6.3 to 2.2 in the opening term. The Eagles flourished with a 17-8 inside-50 dominance on a day when it was announced their midfielder Jack Graham had been suspended by the AFL for four matches for a homophobic slur against an opponent. West Coast's 25-point lead at quarter-time prompted stern words from Power coach Ken Hinkley to his players. But the Eagles, after a superb Liam Baker goal when the ex-Tiger had two disposals in the chain and then converted with a third, were still four goals up midway through the second stanza. The tide then turned, with Port scoring two quick majors to creep within eight points. But late set-shot misses from Port pair Mitch Georgiades and Jack Lukosius ensured the visitors led by 11 points at halftime, 7.5 to 5.6. Both teams kicked two majors in a tight third term - Port kicked 2.6 and scores were level until a late Jobe Shanahan strike gave the Eagles a six-point edge at three-quarter time. But Port's Darcy Byrne-Jones put his side in front five minutes into the final term - the first of five successive goals for his club. Power forward Georgiades kicked 3.5, Jason Horne-Francis booted three majors from 27 disposals, and Joe Richards and Byrne-Jones kicked two goals each. Port's standout Butters received solid midfield support from Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines (25 touches), and Kane Farrell (20) was creative at half-back. West Coast young gun Harley Reid gathered a team-high 26 disposals, Clay Hall (21 touches) and Jack Williams (two goals) impressed, while veterans Liam Duggan (21 possessions) and Baker (18) were prominent. More midfield mastery from Zak Butters has inspired fast-finishing Port Adelaide to a comeback 26-point win over a plucky West Coast. The Power trailed by 33 points in the opening quarter before rallying to a 12.15 (87) to 9.6 (61) victory at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. Butters, whose 38 disposals featured 14 in the first term, was brilliant as Port booted the last five goals of the game to triumph. The Power, who lost captain Connor Rozee to a hand injury, kicked the opening goal of the match but didn't hit the front again until early in the final term. West Coast produced their highest-scoring quarter under first-year coach Andrew McQualter, booting 6.3 to 2.2 in the opening term. The Eagles flourished with a 17-8 inside-50 dominance on a day when it was announced their midfielder Jack Graham had been suspended by the AFL for four matches for a homophobic slur against an opponent. West Coast's 25-point lead at quarter-time prompted stern words from Power coach Ken Hinkley to his players. But the Eagles, after a superb Liam Baker goal when the ex-Tiger had two disposals in the chain and then converted with a third, were still four goals up midway through the second stanza. The tide then turned, with Port scoring two quick majors to creep within eight points. But late set-shot misses from Port pair Mitch Georgiades and Jack Lukosius ensured the visitors led by 11 points at halftime, 7.5 to 5.6. Both teams kicked two majors in a tight third term - Port kicked 2.6 and scores were level until a late Jobe Shanahan strike gave the Eagles a six-point edge at three-quarter time. But Port's Darcy Byrne-Jones put his side in front five minutes into the final term - the first of five successive goals for his club. Power forward Georgiades kicked 3.5, Jason Horne-Francis booted three majors from 27 disposals, and Joe Richards and Byrne-Jones kicked two goals each. Port's standout Butters received solid midfield support from Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines (25 touches), and Kane Farrell (20) was creative at half-back. West Coast young gun Harley Reid gathered a team-high 26 disposals, Clay Hall (21 touches) and Jack Williams (two goals) impressed, while veterans Liam Duggan (21 possessions) and Baker (18) were prominent. More midfield mastery from Zak Butters has inspired fast-finishing Port Adelaide to a comeback 26-point win over a plucky West Coast. The Power trailed by 33 points in the opening quarter before rallying to a 12.15 (87) to 9.6 (61) victory at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. Butters, whose 38 disposals featured 14 in the first term, was brilliant as Port booted the last five goals of the game to triumph. The Power, who lost captain Connor Rozee to a hand injury, kicked the opening goal of the match but didn't hit the front again until early in the final term. West Coast produced their highest-scoring quarter under first-year coach Andrew McQualter, booting 6.3 to 2.2 in the opening term. The Eagles flourished with a 17-8 inside-50 dominance on a day when it was announced their midfielder Jack Graham had been suspended by the AFL for four matches for a homophobic slur against an opponent. West Coast's 25-point lead at quarter-time prompted stern words from Power coach Ken Hinkley to his players. But the Eagles, after a superb Liam Baker goal when the ex-Tiger had two disposals in the chain and then converted with a third, were still four goals up midway through the second stanza. The tide then turned, with Port scoring two quick majors to creep within eight points. But late set-shot misses from Port pair Mitch Georgiades and Jack Lukosius ensured the visitors led by 11 points at halftime, 7.5 to 5.6. Both teams kicked two majors in a tight third term - Port kicked 2.6 and scores were level until a late Jobe Shanahan strike gave the Eagles a six-point edge at three-quarter time. But Port's Darcy Byrne-Jones put his side in front five minutes into the final term - the first of five successive goals for his club. Power forward Georgiades kicked 3.5, Jason Horne-Francis booted three majors from 27 disposals, and Joe Richards and Byrne-Jones kicked two goals each. Port's standout Butters received solid midfield support from Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines (25 touches), and Kane Farrell (20) was creative at half-back. West Coast young gun Harley Reid gathered a team-high 26 disposals, Clay Hall (21 touches) and Jack Williams (two goals) impressed, while veterans Liam Duggan (21 possessions) and Baker (18) were prominent.
Perth Now
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Butters brilliant in Port's comeback win over Eagles
More midfield mastery from Zak Butters has inspired fast-finishing Port Adelaide to a comeback 26-point win over a plucky West Coast. The Power trailed by 33 points in the opening quarter before rallying to a 12.15 (87) to 9.6 (61) victory at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. Butters, whose 38 disposals featured 14 in the first term, was brilliant as Port booted the last five goals of the game to triumph. The Power, who lost captain Connor Rozee to a hand injury, kicked the opening goal of the match but didn't hit the front again until early in the final term. West Coast produced their highest-scoring quarter under first-year coach Andrew McQualter, booting 6.3 to 2.2 in the opening term. The Eagles flourished with a 17-8 inside-50 dominance on a day when it was announced their midfielder Jack Graham had been suspended by the AFL for four matches for a homophobic slur against an opponent. West Coast's 25-point lead at quarter-time prompted stern words from Power coach Ken Hinkley to his players. But the Eagles, after a superb Liam Baker goal when the ex-Tiger had two disposals in the chain and then converted with a third, were still four goals up midway through the second stanza. The tide then turned, with Port scoring two quick majors to creep within eight points. But late set-shot misses from Port pair Mitch Georgiades and Jack Lukosius ensured the visitors led by 11 points at halftime, 7.5 to 5.6. Both teams kicked two majors in a tight third term - Port kicked 2.6 and scores were level until a late Jobe Shanahan strike gave the Eagles a six-point edge at three-quarter time. But Port's Darcy Byrne-Jones put his side in front five minutes into the final term - the first of five successive goals for his club. Power forward Georgiades kicked 3.5, Jason Horne-Francis booted three majors from 27 disposals, and Joe Richards and Byrne-Jones kicked two goals each. Port's standout Butters received solid midfield support from Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines (25 touches), and Kane Farrell (20) was creative at half-back. West Coast young gun Harley Reid gathered a team-high 26 disposals, Clay Hall (21 touches) and Jack Williams (two goals) impressed, while veterans Liam Duggan (21 possessions) and Baker (18) were prominent.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vision comes to light of sneaky Zak Butters act he copied from Nick Daicos
Nick Daicos has found a new admirer in the AFL after new footage emerged of Zak Butters copying a cheeky move of the Collingwood midfielder's in his side's win over Carlton. Blues fans were left frustrated after Thursday night's horror 50-point away loss to Port Adelaide with Michael Voss facing plenty of pressure to stop the form slump. And in the aftermath of the demolition, Butters spoke about a cheeky tactic he developed from his Collingwood rival. On Channel 7, it was revealed after the game that Butters had made a U-turn after looking like he was being substituted to remain on the field. The idea of this was to avoid his tag from Carlton. And Butters admitted he got the idea from watching Daicos lat year. "I watch a lot of vision during the week, I watch lot of footy. I prepare for everything...I actually got it off Nick Daicos. I saw him do it a couple of times last year." And vision has emerged of Butters pulling off the stunt. Butters ran off the field with his tag Alex Cincotta following him across the white line. However, Butters made a quick dash back on the field having not been subbed with Cincotta taking a seat on the bench. The move Zak Butters learnt from Nick Daicos 👀@cleary_mitch — 7AFL (@7AFL) July 1, 2025 This gave Butters an extra few minutes without being pressured to make his mark on the game. Only minutes later Butter took an easy mark in the centre of the field with no Carlton player picking him up. Reporter Mitch Cleary claimed Butters was 'running free' against Carlton in a move that could become more regular when players are being tagged. Against Carlton the 24-year-old midfielder had 30 disposals and 19 handballs in a stellar performance. Butters admitting he likes to learn from his rivals was welcomed by AFL fans with Daicos one of the favourites to take out the Brownlow Medal in 2025. Butters has been enjoying a strong season, but his side remain outside finals footy in 10th place. "Zak Butters, being tagged by Alex Cincotta, pretended to come off the ground, Cincotta was then taken off, but Butters did a u-turn and is now running free." - @cleary_mitch Zak Butters playing 4D chess ♟️ #AFLPowerBlues — 7AFL (@7AFL) June 26, 2025 Port Adelaide's thumping win took them four points above Carlton who now sit in 11th on the ladder with their finals hopes dangling by a thread. And Blues general manager of football Brad Lloyd claimed he is aware Voss and him are targets. Asked if he and Voss would be at the club next year, Lloyd replied: "I'm unsure of that. "We will just stick at it and keep going to work," he told reporters at Melbourne airport on Friday. It's for others to judge. We have been going at it for a little while now and we have had some good times and some down times like we are now." Voss' contract runs till the end of 2026, but faces pressure if his side doesn't make the top eight. Incoming chief executive Graham Wright is known for making changes and will take over from Brian Cook at the end of a season. In ugly scenes after the loss, the club's headquarters were tagged overnight with graffiti to "sack the board". Carlton president Rob Priestley has backed coach Voss to remain in charge at least until the end of the season, but captain Patrick Cripps has also weighed-in. Cripps said the noise was certainly growing louder at Carlton, but he was ready to find out who was willing to fight for the club. 'The thing I really try to focus on as well with the other leaders is making sure we're all on the same page but also trying to keep the energy high … as much as you can, you've got to try and block the external out and it can be loud,' Cripps said on the new vodcast On The Inside.
