Port Adelaide star Zak Butters straight-batted questions about his future after his side's victory over Richmond on Saturday.
The out-of-contract midfielder is widely expected to return to Victoria following the 2026 season and gave no indication of where his mind was at when speaking on 3AW post-game.
“I think for me it's about playing good footy, that's what I'm paid to do and that's my role for the footy club and lead as well and help these young guys really come through and get wins like today and help progress the footy club,” Butters said.
“I'm really loving leading the club at the moment and for me, I love playing footy no matter where I'm at. I'd still be playing for free at Darley if I could so I just love playing footy and getting out there."
The 25-year-old admitted it was a scrappy contest and praised key defender Aliir Aliir who took eight intercept marks.
He also conceded that Port Adelaide's midfielders needed to lift at halftime, with ruck Jordon Sweet getting on top thereafter and Butters pouring praise on Jason Horne-Francis.
“I actually went up to him after the game and said he looked a bit like ‘Plugger' (Tony Lockett) coming up out of the cage late,” Butters quipped.
“He's pretty special and you've seen him in those one-on-one matchups, he's so strong and powerful and quick and I thought that was a good move by ‘Carry' (coach Josh Carr) to put him at full forward late and isolate him and then you get him up the ground and he helps around clearance so it's definitely a balance you want to get right but I thought he did well.”
