Zak Butters to leave Port Adelaide as restricted free agent

Zak Butters Port Adelaide AFL free agency restricted free agent

Zak Butters has officially informed Port Adelaide that he will exercise his rights as a restricted free agent to return to Victoria for the upcoming off-season. The 25-year-old midfielder, a three-time John Cahill Medallist and dual All-Australian, has played 156 games for the club since his debut in 2019.

Several Victorian clubs, including Geelong, the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, and Richmond, are reportedly competing for his signature with significant offers. Port Adelaide has stated it intends to match any bid made for Butters to facilitate a trade rather than accepting the standard free-agency compensation of pick number five.

Butters' season was cut short by a high-grade ankle injury that ruled him out of the final six games of the year. Despite the injury, he is expected to be named in the All-Australian team this week.

Entities

Collingwood · Geelong · Port Adelaide · Western Bulldogs · Zak Butters

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] Port Adelaide intends to match any bid for Butters to force a trade rather than accepting free-agency compensation. www.perthnow.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · www.smh.com.au
[● 5 SOURCES] Zak Butters has officially informed Port Adelaide that he intends to exercise his restricted free agency rights. www.perthnow.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · www.smh.com.au
[● 5 SOURCES] Zak Butters plans to return to Victoria for the upcoming off-season. www.perthnow.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · www.smh.com.au
[● 5 SOURCES] Butters is a three-time John Cahill Medallist and a dual All-Australian. www.perthnow.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · www.smh.com.au
[● 4 SOURCES] Zak Butters has played 156 games for Port Adelaide since his debut in 2019. www.perthnow.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · www.smh.com.au
[● 4 SOURCES] If Butters leaves via free agency without a match, Port Adelaide would receive pick number five as compensation. www.perthnow.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · www.smh.com.au
[● 5 SOURCES] Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, and Richmond are among the Victorian clubs pursuing Butters. www.perthnow.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · www.smh.com.au
[● 2 SOURCES] Butters missed the final six games of the season due to an ankle injury. www.perthnow.com.au

Sources

When is AFL Trade Period? Start date, deadline for 2026 player movement including Free Agency [www.sportingnews.com]

24 days ago

Victorian powerhouse out of the race for Zak Butters [www.afl.com.au]

25 days ago

Butters out of Power, moving to Victorian club [www.perthnow.com.au]

25 days ago

Port star makes huge decision on future [www.perthnow.com.au]

25 days ago

Zak Butters announces departure from Port Adelaide [www.watoday.com.au]

25 days ago

Zak Butters announces departure from Port Adelaide [www.smh.com.au]

25 days ago