ZAK BUTTERS has set his sights on cementing a permanent spot in Port Adelaide’s midfield in 2022, and the young star will spend the pre-season making his case.
Butters has in his short career split his time between the forward line and midfield, finding himself around the ball a fair bit in the early stages of last season before a serious knee and ankle injury kept him out for 12 games in the middle of the year.
The 21-year-old returned for pre-season training last week and says his body is feeling great.
“The body feels really good, probably the best it’s felt since getting injured at the start of last (season),” Butters told Adelaide radio station SEN SA.
“The body is in really good nick at the moment and the boys have all rocked up in incredible shape and that has made training in the last week and a bit really high intensity.
“It’s been so good being back in Adelaide and back at the club.
“I’d been away for nearly two months and you start to miss it. Us competitive athletes like to get back amongst it and back training again.”
Named as a half-forward in the 40-man All-Australian squad in 2020 after a break-out year, Butters is eyeing more midfield time going forward.
“That’s my goal this off-season,” he explained of wanting a permanent role in the midfield. “I’m going to be training pretty much full-time in the midfield in the pre-season so that’s something I’m looking forward to – to growing in that space and becoming a better midfielder and just applying my strengths to the team; I think that’s my speed and clean ball use, and being cleaner under pressure.
“Hopefully I can help add to that midfield with Ollie and Trav and Willem Drew. I’ve just got to get better with my contest and stoppage craft but I think I can add to the strength of our midfield and I’m looking forward to putting my best foot forward.”
Port Adelaide’s could be a new-look midfield with Butters, fellow forward/midfielder Connor Rozee, young father-son Jackson Mead and North Melbourne recruit Trent Dumont each pushing for a spot.
Then there is a new midfield coach with Brett Montgomery taking the reins after the departure of Jarrad Schofield.
“It’s still pretty early days of the pre-season but knowing how Monty operates, it’ll be pretty to the tee and point,” Butters said of Montgomery’s methods.
“I think we’ll look to do a few different things in there and (midfield development coach) Luke (Kelly)’s been a great addition in there as well. He’ll do some different stuff under Monty as well.
“I think it’ll be a fresh start for all the midfielders in there. I’m looking forward to what will happen. Monty is a great coach, he’s been really good for our backline so I’m sure he’ll do a great job for the mids and help us develop for the team.”
Draftee Josh Sinn is another who could be included as part of the midfield rotation.
The 12th pick in the draft – the same pick Butters’ name was called with by Port – has spent some of his first week at the club training in midfield drills.
Butters said Sinn and fellow draftees Hugh Jackson, Dante Visentini and Jase Burgoyne had all settled in well and impressed him at various stages.
“They’ve all done some really good stuff at training so far and we’re really excited to see what they can bring this year to the football club,” he said.
“It’s pretty refreshing to bring in some new talent in the door and meeting some new people and having some new teammates that you’re looking forward to hopefully playing with for the next ten years.
“It’s good for the club, especially when you bring in some good talent to the footy club, it’s only going to make us better so it’s really exciting times for them and for us at the club.”
