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Victorian club OUT of Zak Butters free agency race as superstar makes up his mind on AFL future Zak Butters is leaving Port Adelaide, but he won’t be joining Collingwood. The superstar midfielder told the Power on Monday he wanted to head home to Victoria, but AFL Media reports the Magpies have been told they won’t be his destination. Watch every match of the 2026 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. It comes after eight prolific seasons at Alberton, where he was drafted in 2018 with the No.12 pick in the national draft. As he repeatedly said he would, Butters waited until the end of Port Adelaide’s season to confirm his call. And with the Power’s campaign over, the news is out. “I’ve made the decision to head home — it’s obviously been one that I’ve wrestled with for a while now,” Butters said on Monday. “It’s been quite tough to get to the bottom of it; it’s been a tough decision in my life and one that I haven’t taken lightly. It’s been tough.” Asked if family support back in Victoria was part of his reasoning, Butters said: “Yeah, most definitely. “I feel like, although I’ve loved my time in Adelaide and everything the city has given to me and the football club’s given to me, I’m probably at a stage in my life where I’d like to get back among some family and friends, enjoy some more time with them and cherish moments with them. “But in saying that, I’ve also really enjoyed my time at the footy club and here in Adelaide. It’s felt like home for me as well.” READ MORE: BRUTAL REVIEWS 2026: What went right, what went wrong and how to fix AFL’s bottom eight FINALS FIXTURE: Wildcard games revealed as full AFL top 10 confirmed ‘HEART AND SOUL’: Hird responds as ‘box seat’ favourite to land Bombers job revealed The irrepressible ball-winner didn’t get the Port send-off he wanted, suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Round 18, but his impact as stand-in skipper this year won’t soon be forgotten at headquarters. The only remaining question he has to answer is where he wants to play his footy. It’s understood the 25-year-old hasn’t yet indicated which club he’d like to be traded to, with Geelong thought to be the frontrunner, while the Western Bulldogs and Richmond still hold out hope. Collingwood had reportedly tabled a club-record $14 million, eight-year offer to Butters but he does not want to join them. Richmond has the biggest financial offer (a reported $18 million over eight years and heavily front-loaded) while the Bulldogs were his childhood club and Geelong is the closest to a premiership. The latter two sides are also closest to Darley, west of Melbourne, where Butters grew up and still spends plenty of time. Asked what his next steps would be, Butters said: “There’s a bit to play through in the next little bit with my manager and family and trying to decide on what’s next for me. I’ll look to get that sorted in the next little bit. “The club has been great throughout everything. I’m sure they’ll work together, and we’ll get something done.” The Darley product is a restricted free agent, with the Power set to match any contending rival offer to force a trade. Richmond has the best tradeable assets to satisfy the Power, but that won’t matter if he desires a move to Kardinia Park. Butters said he would take “so many special memories” with him. “My teammates along the journey have all been awesome, some great role models who’ve really paved the way and helped me,” he said. “Plenty of great coaches that have gotten me to where I am today. “I’ll forever be in debt to the footy club for drafting a skinny kid from Darley that had no shoulders. “I’ll always be a Port Adelaide person. I’ll always value this club and what it’s done for me. “The supporters have been everything. They’ve always got around me from day one of being drafted; even throughout this year, they’ve been awesome and shown nothing but love and support. I feel I’ve always tried to repay them in the right way and play football the right way. “Adelaide Oval is a special place. There’s nothing better than Showdowns. That’s something I’ll dearly miss.” This year’s trade period is set to start on Monday, October 5 and run through Wednesday, October 14.