ZAK BUTTERS has capped a breakout year by winning the John Cahill Medal as Port Adelaide’s 2023 AFL Best and Fairest player.
The 23-year-old polled 190 votes to finish 20 votes clear of runner-up Connor Rozee and 32 ahead of fellow All-Australian Dan Houston in third place.
Butters took the lead in the count after polling 10 votes in the Round 8 win over Essendon and edged away from that point to claim his first John Cahill Medal at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
He was remarkably consistent after a slow start, polling votes in all but two of the club’s 25 games.
The John Cahill Medal win caps a strong season where Butters earned his first All-Australian blazer and won the AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player of the Year award among other accolades after a move from the forward line into the midfield.
“I've put more into myself as I ever have this year,” Butters said in an emotional acceptance speech.
“If you keep showing up, you get what you deserve, so the more you put in the more you get out of it. I like to live like that as well.
“Congratulations to Dan (Houston) and Connor (Rozee) on terrific seasons. I love playing with them and their seasons have been really special and it's good to do it with them.
“Thank you to my parents. Mum, you've always been there from when I started out on this journey…I love what you do for me. Dad always pushed me to work hard and challenge myself. I wouldn’t be here without you either and I'm very lucky to have great role models as parents.
“Coaches shape you and help you grow and I've had some good ones along the journey. Kenny, I respect you so much, you're someone I look up to and the compassion and competitiveness is something I admire. I feel like you've taken me on as one of your own. Carry (Josh Carr), his addition to the football club this year is probably a big reason I'm standing up here tonight. Having you in my corner is something I'm very grateful for.”
Butters also thanked his teammates as well as Robbie Gray for passing on the number nine guernsey and the 'luck' that came with it.
Consistent midfielder Willem Drew took home the Fos Williams Medal as the best team man as voted by his teammates and Houston claimed the Bruce Weber Memorial Award for this third-place finish in the best and fairest voting.
In the other AFL award categories, second-year midfielder Jason Horne-Francis claimed the Gavin Wanganeen Award as the best player under 21 and Miles Bergman claimed the Coaches’ Award as the most improved player.
The John McCarthy Medal for work in the community also went to departing midfielder Trent Dumont for his work volunteering with people experiencing homelessness at Hutt Street Centre.
Midfielder Nick Moore was named the club’s SANFL Best and Fairest, taking home the A.R. McLean Medal.
John Cahill Medal leader board
1. Zak Butters - 190
2. Connor Rozee - 170
3. Dan Houston - 158
4. Willem Drew - 115
5. Aliir Aliir - 113
6. Sam Powell-Pepper - 104
7. Jason Horne-Francis - 97
8. Miles Bergman - 90
9. Darcy Byrne-Jones - 89
10. Ollie Wines - 86
11. Jeremy Finlayson - 78
12. Todd Marshall - 77
12. Willie Rioli - 77
14. Jed McEntee - 73
15. Trent McKenzie - 68
AFL award winners
John Cahill Medal (best and fairest)
Zak Butters
Runner up
Connor Rozee
Bruce Weber Memorial Award (second runner up)
Dan Houston
Fos Williams Medal (best team man)
Willem Drew
Gavin Wanganeen Award (best player under 21)
Jason Horne-Francis
Coaches’ Award (most improved)
Miles Bergman
John McCarthy Award (for community service)
Trent Dumont
