r/weareportadelaide

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.

Injury list
Zak Butters (ankle) - test
Aliir Aliir (concussion protocols)
Logan Evans (shoulder) - season
Kane Farrell (groin) - season
Jason Horne-Francis (toe) - season
Mani Liddy (hip) - season
Ollie Lord (knee) - season
Jack Lukosius (baker's cyst/knee) - season
Ewan Mackinlay (knee) - season
Sam Powell-Pepper (training block) - season
Esava Ratugolea (patella tendon) - season
Connor Rozee (hamstring/nerve) - season
Josh Sinn (shoulder) - season
Jack Watkins (hamstring) - season

Who would you rather?

Butter if he resigns is gonna be a $2m a year player or there abouts.

NAS (Is gettable in 12months) also $2m a year player.

We can only have one - who would you rather?

This might be an unpopular opinion but if we loose Butters and get NAS is a win.

NAS is arguably a better player - more versatile & a proven goal kicker.

That’s not to say butters is not an absolute super star in his own right.

With a young core of Cochrane, Pilot, Salopek & Rodan all likely to join in the next 12months.

On top of that our core of key youth looks good in Georgianous, Berry, JHF, Burgoyne & Whitlock.

Obviously would love to have both, but is loosing Butters a win if it meant we could secure NAS & all these F/S.

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/port-adelaide-ceo-matthew-richardson-on-zak-butters-and-exiting-the-sanfl/news-story/a064654b7934e121626e95b75d37ac88

>Richardson told SEN the Power’s side would also exit the SANFL at the end of 2028 as the club attempted to find a league which would fast-track their kids.

>The Power would need to travel more if they were to enter the VFL but he said the SANFL competition was not strong enough to develop Port Adelaide’s emerging kids.

Hypothetically, if we lose to the dons next week, and then Butters goes to Richmond and we got Pick 1, who would you like to see us use that pick on?

youre actually a much better team than your ladder position would suggest. Gave Lions a competitive match until the 4th quarter, nearly beat the swans, nearly beat doggies, my team

but youve completely gassed out this late season. looks like the ability to score goals has gone, you can manage maybe 1 or 2 quarters of decent footy and then thats it

https://preview.redd.it/hh1phdcwimih1.png?width=750&format=png&auto=webp&s=2a6379b3b3fd4330eb41059115f7438de11138a2

you guys are making Dougie Cochrane look like the second coming of Christ. Ahaha I’m sure he’ll be great for us but A LOT of things needs to change. It’ll be a while til we’re final contenders anyways, I think at least. Don’t expect much so you won’t be disappointed when it doesn’t work out!!