Port Adelaide midfielder slapped with a staggering $10,000 fine for rough conduct in Brisbane Lions defeat
Zak Butters has come under fire for his recent ‘bad behavior’ during matches. Butters was cited for hitting Jarrod Berry behind the ball during the Port Adelaide vs Brisbane Lions clash on Saturday (June 22), which led to a one-match suspension. This incident triggered widespread criticism for the player’s apparent lack of discipline and his club’s hesitation to outlaw him for his behavior.
In an interview with Fox Footy’s On The Couch, five-time All-Australian Garry Lyon and 2003 Brownlow Medallist Nathan Buckley expressed their distaste for Butters’ actions.
“His actions are causing this, he’s got to be aware that he’s a recidivist, and he needs to adjust what he’s doing," Buckley said.
“The AFL are responsible for allowing it… of course they are,” Lyon added.
“I’ve said this many times, he can walk into Laura Kane’s office and go: “Laura listen, who do we play this week? I’ll have $8,000 worth of ‘strikes - and Laura will say ‘that’ll give you two; a slap to the chops and one to the kidneys.’ What sort of a competition are we running where they're allowing that? And I know they’re not big whacks, but four is AFL 2024; enough," Lyon continued.
Butters’ incident with Berry earned him a $10,000 fine, his hit on Berry was graded as low body contact, intentional contact and low impact. In the past, three consecutive fines within a season would lead to a suspension, however the rules are not so clear today.
Buckley questioned this:
“How many should it be before you get a suspension? Two or on the third you get a suspension?”
Lyon replied:
“I’d fine them once ($10,000) and then give them an option the second time of $25,000 or a week and then start rubbing them out; so if you want to be stupid, have a spell on the sidelines…”
Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters on his way to becoming the most fined player in AFL history
Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters has a colorful relationship with fines in the AFL and is on the path to becoming the most fined player in the league’s history. Butters has already incurred $29,375 worth of fines in his short time in the AFL, not to mention a two-match ban.
He currently sits behind the GWS Giants’ Toby Greene, who has amassed a remarkable $30,000 worth of fines from 17 incidents across his 228-game career.
Butters received his fourth fine in 16 games, attracting the scrutiny of pundits such as Nathan Buckley and Garry Lyon. The incident that put him under the scanner recently was his altercation with Brisbane’s Jarrod Berry during his team’s 79-point defeat at the hands of the Lions.
Butters, who has had a brilliant career, could possibly see his time on the field this season cut short if he continues this controversial trend.