Never Leaving: Butcher
John Butcher says he never considered leaving Port Adelaide despite intense media speculation
PORT Adelaide forward John Butcher has described the intense speculation over his future as "ridiculous", saying he never contemplated leaving the club.
On Thursday, the Power announced Butcher and promising ruckman Matthew Lobbe had both agreed to two-year contract extensions with the club.
Butcher & Lobbe Commit to the Club
Earlier this year, Butcher put off contract talks with the club until the end of the season, prompting concerns he could leave Alberton only two years after being selected with the club's first pick (No.8) in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.
Interest in the 20-year-old from Maffra skyrocketed after he booted 11 goals in his first three games, including six in the club's 60-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in round 22, with several Victorian-based clubs believed to be interested in luring him back across the border.
Even Butcher's Port Adelaide teammates joined in the circus surrounding the 197cm forward's contract negotiations, launching a Twitter campaign to try and get him to stay with the club.
Butcher said he was bemused by the attention surrounding his future.
"I don't think I ever said I was leaving. It was more you guys [in the media] and it got beat up more and more," Butcher said on Thursday.
"I was just trying to get a kick and play footy. I'm just happy it's done now because it was all getting a bit ridiculous.
"I said four weeks ago I was going to wait until the end of the year and it's the end of the year now. It was all over pretty quick and easy in the end.
"I'm just stoked to get another contract because four weeks ago I don't think anyone had heard of my name, especially back home [in Victoria]."
Lobbe, taken with pick No.16 in the 2007 draft, only played three games in his debut season last year but emerged as a long-term replacement for retired ruckman Dean Brogan when the veteran succumbed to injury in round 14 this season.
The 21-year-old played the last 10 games of the season, and said he was ready to assume the lead-ruck role permanently.
"I've enjoyed my opportunity this year. Being able to play a lot of game time has been great for me and I've learned a lot this year," Lobbe said.
"I want the No.1 [ruck] job and I'll back myself to do that. "
Coach Matthew Primus said Lobbe's rapid rise in the latter-half of the season had diminished the need for another experienced ruckman at Alberton.
"We'll still be in the market place for a ruckman, but the need for a top-liner has probably disappeared to a certain extent [because of Lobbe's improvement]," Primus said.
"We think guys like that, [Jarrad Redden and Daniel Bass], have got the talent, but they're a little way off yet."
The re-signing of Butcher and Lobbe, which follows recent commitments from Victorian-born trio Jackson Trengove, Alipate Carlile and Andrew Moore, defies mid-season speculation there would be a mass-exodus of players at Port Adelaide this year.
Butcher, who admitted he was dealt a "reality check" by Melbourne defender Jared Rivers in the clash between the two teams at Adelaide Oval last weekend, said the young Power players were committed to rebuilding the club.
"'Jacko' [Trengove] and 'Bobby' [Carlile] said if I did go it would be the last thing I did, so that weighed on my mind," he said with a laugh.
"We've got a great young list. All the boys have re-signed and it's fantastic to all stick together.
"We can't wait to have a big pre-season and get this club back up to where we know it can be."
Port Adelaide also confirmed it expects to receive some form of compensation if veteran duo Chad Cornes and Dean Brogan come out of retirement to play for Greater Western Sydney next season.
Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill