Port Adelaide list boss Jason Cripps has outright denied reports which claimed that 25-year-old midfield phenom Zak Butters sat down with Power officials to broach the possibility of a trade home to Victoria.

7 News' Mitch Cleary claimed on Sunday that Victorian clubs "hold a glimmer of hope" Butters will approach Port Adelaide again "more forcefully" about a potential trade following an unsuccessful meeting in the final month of the Power's miserable 2025 season, where Butters was answered with an "emphatic no" by key club officials.

However, while Cripps admitted ongoing discissions are taking place with Butters and his management, he stated talks surrounding the possibility of a trade this off-season for the midfielder have not taken place.

"Zak has never broached the idea of being traded," Cripps said on Monday.

"We've had ongoing discussions with Zak and his management group, as we do with all our players, in particular our interstate players, over the journey.

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ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: Zak Butters of the Power celebrates a goal during the 2024 AFL Round 05 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Fremantle Dockers at Adelaide Oval on April 13, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

"We'll continue to have those discussions with those players, but as I said, Zak is 100 per cent committed and happy at the club.

"We want Zak to be at the club for the next 10 years, and that will be our sole focus at the right time."

Several clubs are reportedly interested in the Darley-raised talent as speculation of a potential return to home state Victoria mounts, including the Bulldogs, Cats and Magpies.

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"Zak's contracted. He's clearly an unbelievable player and we admire, like a lot of clubs, what he's done from afar, and you always take an extra interest when a player's from the western suburbs," Western Bulldogs list boss Sam Power said.

Meanwhile, Geelong football manager Andrew Mackie said the Cats are keeping "really close tabs" on Butters.

"He's a gun. We'd love him (but) so would 17 other clubs, including Port Adelaide," Mackie said.

"As far as we're concerned, he's a contracted player, and we haven't spent too much time on it, other than admiring his football from where we sit."