Zak Butters has finally made the call on his future in South Australia, telling Port Adelaide brass that he’ll be looking to leave the club when the next AFL free agency period opens this offseason.
AFL media, especially down south in Melbourne, have been questioning what Butters would do since the beginning of the year, though he regularly said he wouldn’t be making any decision until the season was over. With the Power’s home-and-away campaign done this weekend, he’s confirmed his plans.
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“I’ve made the decision to head home. It’s obviously been one I’ve wrestled with for a while now,” Butters said on Monday. “It’s been quite tough to get to the bottom of it; it’s been a tough decision in my life and one that I haven’t taken lightly.”
The decision was largely due to him wanting to move closer to family in Victoria, where he hasn’t lived since he was taken at No. 12 in the 2018 national draft.
“I feel like, although I’ve loved my time in Adelaide and everything the city has given to me and the football club’s given to me, I’m probably at a stage in my life where I’d like to get back among some family and friends, enjoy some more time with them, and cherish moments with them,” he explained.
The 25-year-old then added that he had still “really enjoyed my time at the footy club and here in Adelaide” and said the town feels like home now.
During his time with the Power, Butters played 156 games, scoring 73 goals and twice making the All-Australian team, in 2023 and 2024. The Western Jets junior was named Best and Fairest at the club three times in a row between 2023 and 2025.
“I’ll always be a Port Adelaide person. I’ll always value this club. Adelaide Oval is a special place. There’s nothing better than Showdowns. That’s something I’ll dearly miss,” he said.
But — that won’t stop him heading back to Geelong or Melbourne sometime in the near future. The Bulldogs, Tigers, and Magpies are in the mix, while the Cats are the frontrunners for his services early in the offseason.
Richmond are one of the only clubs to make a formal offer already, lobbing an $18 million carrot at the young gun, but The Sporting Base understands he’s unlikely to take that deal.
Instead, Butters wants to make sure his move back to Victoria means something when it comes to silverware as well; if he had simply wanted to take up a big deal offer, he could have stayed in the city of churches long-term.
“There’s a bit to play through… with my manager and family and trying to decide on what’s next for me. I’ll look to get that sorted in the next little bit,” he said. “The club has been great throughout everything. I’m sure they’ll work together, and we’ll get something done.”
This year’s AFL trade period is scheduled to start on Monday, October 5.
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