1 week Ago
They say a picture paints a thousand words. And Zak Butters’ epic reaction on the final siren of Port Adelaide’s emphatic 30-point Gather Round win over Hawthorn shows how much it meant to the Power. A passionate and fired up Butters flexed with a scary look in his eyes and yelled words in excitement before embracing with Willem Drew.
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“The glee from Zak Butters, who does possess the crazy eyes,” Fox Footy’s Anthony Hudson said. Beyond that, it showed how invested Butters is at Alberton right now amid talk the future of the star midfielder, who’s eligible for free agency next year. Butters was among the Port players to set an aggressive tone early in Sunday night’s win, igniting a tussle with Hawks players in the first quarter when he crashed into James Worpel on the deck.
What’s more, the Power vice-captain backed up his physical approach where it mattered most. He racked up a game highs in disposals (33) and score involvements (11) to go with 16 contested possessions and eight clearances in just his second game back from knee surgery on the eve of the season. “He seems like the type of player who loves the big occasion.
Loves when the club is up against the wall,” Hawks legend Jordan Lewis said on Fox Footy post-match. “It was a big challenge for them tonight. In his second game back from injury, he was outstanding.
” Asked after the win who’s the ‘biggest yapper’ of Port players, Mitch Georgiades said: “Have a guess. No doubt, Zak Butters.” It’s a part of his game Butters makes no apologies for.
“It’s a good part of the game. I feel like I can control it and not let it get too far,” the 24-year old said. “It gets me into the game and really brings out my competitive nature.
“I often get told off by mum and Kenny (Hinkley) and all the coaches, but sometimes I like backing up my teammates and it gets me into the game.” Butters admitted he pulled up “pretty sore” as he adjusts to getting back up to full speed. “I’ve definitely been moving better previously.
For me it’s one step at a time and hopefully in the back-end of the year I can really hit my straps,” he said. Meanwhile, Port skipper Connor Rozee flourished in a new role across half back, tallying 28 touches with two goals and also setting the tone early for Hinkley’s men. Lewis believes the Power may have “found their Dan Houston replacement” across half back.
“That was always going to be the challenge throughout this season. (Rozee) is a player who can probably play in any position on the ground,” Lewis said. “But maybe what they lacked was that bounce off half back and a player who understands positioning.
I was quite surprised in his positioning, he knew where to stand at what time and he hasn’t played defence at all really in his career. “They might have found their replacement for Dan Houston tonight.” Hawks and Power great Shaun Burgoyne highlighted “not many people know” Rozee previously played half back for North Adelaide’s premiership side under Port coach in waiting Josh Carr.
It prompted Lewis to cheekily ask: “Was Carr having a bit of an influence?” Burgoyne added: “(Rozee’s) done it before. He kicks two goals off half back and was thinking: ‘How good is this? No tag, two goals, I’m flying’.”.
