The AFL's hottest free agent Zak Butters says that any decision regarding his future is going to be "pretty emotional".
Butters, in the lead-up to his 150th game for Port Adelaide, has yet to begin discussing his plans beyond 2026, with the Western Bulldogs, Geelong, Hawthorn, Essendon and Collingwood all linked to the star midfielder.
"It's obviously a big decision," Butters said.
"You think about everything ... there's emotion attached to it, definitely. No matter what the decision is, it's going to be a pretty emotional one from my end, no matter what I do."
The Bulldogs and Cats are deemed as the leading contenders for Butters' signature, with the Darley product set to head back home during the bye, which is when discussions may begin to ramp up.
"Honestly, I haven't even spoken to my family too much about it," Butters said.
"I have just really enjoyed having them at games and playing footy.
"And I always said I'd probably think about it more in the back half of the year.
"Just like 150 games, it creeps up on you quickly. So it's probably something I need to start having some conversations around with family and friends and people I'm closest to."
However, entering Butters' mind in the decision-making process is former club champions Travis Boak and Robbie Gray remaining as one-club players at Port Adelaide.
Boak denied significant interest from Geelong in 2013 despite hailing from Torquay, while Gray stayed in Alberton for 16 seasons.
"It's my job to play footy, I enjoy playing footy as well," he said.
"It's really exciting where the group is at the moment, a few young boys coming through.
"I look back and think I need to be what Travis (Boak) and Robbie (Gray), how they were for me.
"Footy clubs go on a cycle. It's my time now to give back to them and try and make them the best player they can be."
