Zak Butters

AFL MRO: Port Adelaide star Zak Butters involved in another off-ball incident

The Power vice-captain avoided a suspension earlier this week following an AFL Tribunal hearing.

Published by
Mitch Keating

Another off-ball incident involving Port Adelaide's Zak Butters could gain the attention of the AFL's Match Review Officer.

A second-term action on Brisbane's Jarrod Berry away from play has the potential to earn the scrutiny of the MRO, with the Lions midfielder left in pain on the ground after passing his opponent.

Live vision of the pair saw Butters make contact to Berry's midriff with his left hand approximately 25 metres from where the ball was.

Any reportable offence handed down to Butters would be graded as intentional conduct and body conduct, while the level of impact would likely be graded as 'low', resulting in a fine for the Power midfielder.

The MRO would have to see the level of force applied by Butters as more than negligible to hand down a striking charge, while it would take an impact grading of 'medium' for Butters to be handed a suspension.

Earlier this week Butters was handed a one-game suspension by the MRO for striking GWS player Tom Green in their Round 14 game, with the ban eventually removed at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday after the Power contested the charge.

Butters made high contact with Green with his right hand, with the Tribunal finding the level of force applied by Buttrs was negligible, freeing the Port Adelaide vice-captain for this week's clash against the Lions.

"It's an action I do a lot in a game, pushing and trying to get away from opponents. My intent wasn't to hit him in the face, so I feel like I'll continue to do that," Butters was quoted at this week's Tribunal hearing.

Any charges from Saturday's matches will be handed down on Sunday evening.

2024-06-22T03:45:00Z
Adelaide Oval
PORT
73
FT
152
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Published by
Mitch Keating