Port Adelaide midfielder Jason Horne-Francis believes teammate Zak Butters will return before the conclusion of the 2026 season, even flagging that the free agent is confident he can play next week.
Fears reverberated around the Power camp when scans confirmed, following the Round 18 clash against St Kilda, that Butters had suffered a high-grade syndesmosis injury and required surgery.
The Alberton club is adamant, as too is its star on-baller, that he will push for a guernsey in the final game of the season, amid the trade circus surrounding his future.
“He definitely thinks he will play (again this season). He's very confident with his chances… he thinks he can play in the Melbourne game (next weekend)," Horne-Francis said on Triple M.
Vision emerged earlier this week of Butters returning to the running track at Alberton in a positive sign he'll don the black and teal once more.
Port Adelaide is hopeful he can return in Round 24 against Essendon, which is largely tipped to be his final game for the club.
The 25-year-old is being chased by Geelong, the Western Bulldogs, Richmond and Collingwood as he weighs up his free agency decision.
Butters is not willing to be walked to the draft by a rival. Instead, the Power leader is adamant the Alberton club must be compensated if he leaves as expected, according to the Herald Sun.
Butters' restricted free agency status is tipped to force a trade between Port Adelaide and the midfielder's preferred destination.
The Tigers have put forward a monster deal that blows the Cats and Bulldogs out of the water, but have little pull in terms of premiership contention for the next few seasons.
Geelong is set to meet with Butters in a bid to convince him to join the Cats.
Port Adelaide coach Josh Carr wasn't impressed by the remarks made by Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly last week.
Kelly, on ABC before the Pies and Geelong game, said: “Zak's coming back to Victoria and we'd like him to consider our club”. Carr didn't take too kindly to the comments.
"I feel like the arrogance of certain football clubs, Collingwood in particular ... he's a leader of their football club, if that's the way they want to lead...,” The Power coach said.
“It's not us, it's not who we are as a football club and how we carry ourselves. We're a football club that respects everyone in the competition and doesn't put ourselves above anyone.
“I feel like it's not the same at every football club. It's disrespectful to the club, the competition and Zak, in particular.
“I'm sure he would be disappointed in those comments to throw it out there like you know what's going on.”
Carr insisted last week no decision has been made.
