Zak Butters

Zak James Butters (born 8 September 2000) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Butters won the AFLCA champion player of the year award in 2023, and is a three-time All-Australian, three-time John Cahill Medallist and dual Robert Rose Award winner.

Early life Butters grew up in Darley and attended Bacchus Marsh College and later Maribyrnong College as part of their selective sports academy. Zak Butters played for the Western Jets in the TAC Cup.

As a child, he supported the Western Bulldogs.

AFL career He was recruited by Port Adelaide with the 12th draft pick in the 2018 AFL draft.

Butters made his AFL debut in a win over Melbourne in the opening round of the 2019 AFL season kicking two goals. He was named in the 40-man All Australian squad in 2020. Following Robbie Gray's retirement in 2022, Butters changed his guernsey number from 18 to 9.

A superb season in 2023 saw Butters earn a maiden All-Australian selection, as well as win the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award with 109 votes. Butters finished his season with his first John Cahill Medal, awarded to Port Adelaide's best and fairest throughout the season. Prior to the 2024 season, Butters was made vice-captain of the club underneath fellow draftee Connor Rozee.

In round 19 of 2024, Butters made history by becoming the most fined player in the history of the AFL's Match Review, overtaking Toby Greene with a double fine against . Butters won his first Showdown Medal in Showdown LVI against cross-town rival . Butters' 42 disposals was the most of any individual in a Showdown. Butters won his second John Cahill Medal as Port Adelaide's best and fairest in 2024.

In 2025, Butters won his third consecutive Best and Fairest at Port Adelaide.

On 24th of August 2026, Butters informed Port Adelaide that he will be leaving the club.

Umpire controversy On April 12, 2026, during Gather Round against St Kilda, Butters was involved in an on-field altercation with field umpire Nick Foot following a holding free kick, with allegations raised regarding verbal remarks made during the incident. Foot stated that Butters said, “How much are they paying you?”, which he interpreted as questioning his integrity, and awarded a 50-metre penalty in favour of St Kilda, while Butters maintained that he instead asked a question relating to the decision itself. Port Adelaide chairman David Koch described the situation as a “miscommunication”, stating that Butters had asked, “Why did you pay that free kick?”, rather than making any comment questioning the umpire’s integrity. Two days later Butters was found guilty of umpire abuse at the AFL Tribunal and fined $1,500, despite Butters and teammate Ollie Wines maintaining that no abusive language was used.

Statistics Updated to the end of round 22, 2026.

156 !! 73 !! 61 !! 1919 !! 1723 !! 3642 !! 614 !! 579 !! 0.5 !! 0.4 !! 12.3 !! 11.0 !! 23.3 !! 3.9 !! 3.7 !! 83