If Butters stay, his legacy will mean more, if he leaves, he’ll just become another player.
This is purely based on my opinion using past trade rumours etc. I’ve seen this same old narrative a few times go for and against us. Here are some examples:
- Boak was apparently guarenteed at Geelong and settled already there. The language used was so similar to Zak’s current situation. “He’s gone”. Didn’t happen. Went on to play 387 games for Port Adelaide, forever in our history and left a legacy with the club.
- Ollie Wines to Carlton for 2020. Massive offers his way but Ollie quickly shut these down. As he also shut down Carlton. Is the club’s first Brownlow winner as a Port Adelaide player. A champion and leader for our club. Approaching 300 games, his legacy will forever be honoured and remembered.
- Robbie Gray rumoured for Melborune and Hawks too in 2019-2020. This didn’t happen. Turned down offers to stay one club player. He is considered one of our greatest ever players.
- Dan Houston was rumoured to move away from Port. At the end of the 2024 season he was saying he was staying. Turned around and decided to go to a major rival. Had an average 2025 season and a better but not amazing 2026 season. Was his legacy ruined? You be the judge. An example of a player opting out.
Port have a great history of retaining players especially important players/star players. This also doesn’t guarantee anything though. I don’t have a set opinion on whether he stays or not but I’ll say one thing. Stay with Port Adelaide, and you’ll have an amazing legacy and forever be a legend for our club. Leave, and you’ll just be another player for another club. We have just as much of a chance for a premiership as the rumoured clubs circling him. Next year will prove that.
Final game this weekend after a prosperous but forgettable season. We will carry on because our club is bigger than a player. Whether Zak stays or not, we will wait and see.