Zak Butters informs Port Adelaide he will depart club

Zak Butters informs Port Adelaide he will depart club to return to Victoria In short: Zak Butters has requested to leave Port Adelaide via free agency. The future of the club's three-time best and fairest winner has dominated headlines throughout the season. What's next? The Power says it will facilitate the request whilst securing the best outcome for the club. Port Adelaide's three-time best and fairest winner Zak Butters has requested to leave the club via free agency and return home to Victoria. The 25-year-old dual All-Australian's future has dominated headlines all season with reports of offers of up to $18 million over eight years from Richmond, Geelong, Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs. "I've made a decision to head home. It's obviously been one that I've wrestled with for a while now," he said. "It's been a tough decision and one that I haven't taken lightly. "Although I've loved my time in Adelaide … I'm probably at a stage in my life where I'd like to get back around some family and friends and enjoy some more time with them. "There are so many special memories I'll take with me and hold with me forever … I'll be forever in debt to the football club for drafting a skinny club from Darley." Butters said he would "always be a Port Adelaide person" and would "always value this club and what it's done for me". "The supporters have been everything, they've always got around since day one of being drafted, even this year they've been awesome and showed nothing but love and support," he said. "I feel like I've always tried to repay them in the right way and play football in the right way." In a club statement, the Power said they would now work to facilitate his request whilst securing the best outcome for the club. "Port Adelaide has been informed by Zak Butters and his management that he intends to exercise his rights as a restricted free agent and explore a return home to Victoria," the statement said. "Zak has been an outstanding servant to the football club since debuting in 2019. "He is a three-time John Cahill Medallist and dual All-Australian and we thank him for everything he has given to Port Adelaide." ABC Sport reported Zak Butters had informed some teammates in July of his decision to move to Victoria; a story that was denied by the club at the time. Butters played 17 games this season before a syndesmosis injury in Round 18 prematurely ended his campaign, with coach Josh Carr admitting the star midfielder was likely departing after their 10-point win over Essendon on the weekend. Port Adelaide has been adamant all season they would match any bid on Butters and force a trade to try maximise their draft capital. Speaking to ABC Sport in April, chief executive Matthew Richardson said the club would focus on their best interests. "There will be offers that we can match and we will match. It does the club fair bit of control in what happens," he said. [Image text:] Santos 00O NEWS NEWS