Zak Butters

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Zak Butters

| image =

| image_size = 200px

| caption =

| fullname = Zak James Butters{{Cite tweet |user=PAFC |number=1879430821767246062 |title=the more you know 😂}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|09|08|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = Western Jets (TAC Cup)/Darley Devils

| draftpick = No. 12, 2018 AFL draft, {{AFL PA}}

| height = 181 cm

| weight = 78 kg

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = {{AFL PA}}

| guernsey = 9

| years1 = 2019–

| club1 = {{AFL PA}}

| games_goals1 = 123 (67)

| statsend = round 7, 2025

| careerhighlights =

}}

Zak James Butters (born 8 September 2000) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by Port Adelaide with the 12th draft pick in the 2018 AFL draft.{{cite news |title=Port Adelaide select Zak Butters with pick 12 |url=https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2018-11-22/port-adelaide-selects-butters-with-pick-12 |agency=portadelaidefc.com.au |date=22 November 2018}}

Early life

Butters grew up in Bacchus Marsh and attended Maribyrnong College as part of their selective sports academy. Zak Butters played for the Western Jets in the TAC Cup.{{Cite web|title=Tomorrow's Heroes: Cool-headed Jet is an elite ball user|url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/272396/tomorrow-s-heroes-cool-headed-jet-is-an-elite-ball-user|access-date=2021-03-02|website=www.afc.com.au}}

As a child, he supported the Western Bulldogs.{{cite web |last1=Capel |first1=Andrew |title=Small in stature, Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters has a big heart, thanks to some advice from dad |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/port-adelaide/small-in-stature-port-adelaides-zak-butters-has-a-big-heart-thanks-to-some-advice-from-dad/news-story/5ae3a88bf373fcb9bf4e8f9d60e4c715 |website=Adelaide now |publisher=Adelaide Now |access-date=13 July 2019}}

AFL career

Butters made his AFL debut in a win over Melbourne in the opening round of the 2019 AFL season kicking two goals.{{cite news |title=AFL Round 1: Melbourne vs Port Adelaide, win, Ken Hinkley reaction, press conference, Jack Watts |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/ken-hinkley-says-port-adelaides-upset-win-over-melbourne-is-the-best-hes-been-involved-with-at-the-club/news-story/0b4a88c452bdeed1b65e4cfe803ccbd0 |access-date=24 March 2019 |work=Fox Sports |date=23 March 2019 |language=en-AU}} He was named in the 40-man All Australian squad in 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-22|title=Revealed: 20yo bolter Zak Butters joins superstars in 40-man All-Australian squad|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-all-australian-2020-squad-afl-all-australian-2020-team-40-man-squad/news-story/0afd69dc07d06bb82aa7daed5cad8f69|access-date=2021-03-02|website=Fox Sports|language=en}} Following Robbie Gray's retirement in 2022, Butters changed his guernsey number from 18 to 9.{{cite web|title=Gray: Zak came to mind straight away|url=https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/1249940/gray-on-butters|date=22 November 2022}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/1447350/butters-takes-out-first-john-cahill-medal|title=Butters takes out first John Cahill Medal|date=9 October 2023|website=portadelaidefc.com.au}} Prior to the 2024 season, Butters was made vice-captain of the club underneath fellow draftee Connor Rozee.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1071165/connor-rozee-to-captain-port-adelaide-power-zak-butters-named-vice-captain|title=Mega-contract star to skipper Power in new era of leadership|first=Callum|last=Twomey|website=afl.com.au|date=11 December 2023}}

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 {{AFL Ric}}.{{cite web|first=Riley|last=Beveridge|title=The AFL's most fined: Butters' bill hits record level|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1178939/the-afls-most-fined-port-adelaide-power-star-zak-butters-bill-hits-record-level|date=22 July 2024|website=afl.com.au}} Butters won his first Showdown Medal in Showdown LVI against cross-town rival {{AFL Ade}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/1631778/showdown-56-medal-votes|date=17 August 2024|title=Showdown 56 Medal Votes|website=afc.com.au}} Butters' 42 disposals was the most of any individual in a Showdown.

Statistics

: Statistics are correct to the end of 2024.{{cite web|title=Zak Butters|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/Z/Zak_Butters.html|work=AFLTables|access-date=9 August 2021}}

| 2019

|{{AFL PA}}

| 18 || 19 || 12 || 7 || 137 || 132 || 269 || 51 || 48 || 0.6 || 0.4 || 7.2 || 7.0 || 14.2 || 2.7 || 2.5 || 0

| 2020{{efn|The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.}}

|{{AFL PA}}

| 18 || 17 || 11 || 6 || 129 || 119 || 248 || 55 || 47 || 0.7 || 0.4 || 7.6 || 7.0 || 14.6 || 3.2 || 2.8 || 2

| 2021

|{{AFL PA}}

| 18 || 12 || 8 || 2 || 111 || 114 || 225 || 50 || 42 || 0.7 || 0.2 || 9.3 || 9.5 || 18.8 || 4.2 || 3.5 || 1

| 2022

|{{AFL PA}}

| 18 || 19 || 6 || 7 || 219 || 173 || 392 || 69 || 64 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 12.5 || 9.7 || 22.2 || 4.0 || 3.8 || 3

| 2023

|{{AFL PA}}

| 9 || 25 || 13 || 8 || 361 || 326 || 687 || 126 || 86 || 0.5 || 0.3 || 14.4 || 13.0 || 27.5 || 5.0 || 3.4 || 27

| 2024