Port Adelaide gun Zak Butters has been subbed out of Saturday's matchup with Sydney after suffering a knee injury.
Butters was aided off the Adelaide Oval turf after hurting his leg in a contest during the second term of the match, gaining medical assistance on the sidelines.
The young Power onballer was back to his feet after the assessment of club medicos and loomed likely to return to the field before showing signs of struggle in his ability to move laterally.
Port Adelaide pulled the trigger on their medical substitution soon after, seeing Butters' day come to a premature end with 10 minutes left in the opening half.
Zak Butters (knee) has been subbed off.
Xavier Duursma comes on for @PAFC.#AFLPowerSaints
— AFL (@AFL) June 18, 2022
Butters had collected nine touches and a goal in what was a strong start for the 21-year-old, whose absence is another blow to Ken Hinkley's side after losing veteran Travis Boak in the week due to COVID protocols.
The Power were also forced to put a line through debutant Brynn Teakle with just minutes left in the second stanza after a collision between the Port ruckman and Swan Justin McInerney left the former hampered.
Teakle was soon left requiring a sling on his left arm, with his maiden match also being brought to an abrupt conclusion due to a collarbone injury.
Oooft a huge hit from Teackle on McInerney - the commentators are loving what they're seeing from the new fella ๐ฅ
๐บ Watch #AFLPowerSwans on ch.504 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/ApM585oEum
โ๏ธ BLOG https://t.co/cnnVS7hpnl
๐ข MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/MDvYw6MpEs pic.twitter.com/5HTgtBXWrG— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 18, 2022
Xavier Duursma was brought into the match as the Power's medical substitute in place for Butters
