The drastic call Port Adelaide must consider after 'alarming' early season losses
Nathan Brown has suggested Port Adelaide should consider trading superstar Zak Butters at the end of this year, given his likely departure in free agency at the end of 2026.
The gun midfielder has reportedly told the club he will see out his contract, but has been linked to the likes of Geelong, Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs.
The Power were smashed by the Dogs in Ballarat in round eight, going down by 90 points to slip to 4-4 with a percentage of 87.
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Zak Butters of the Power Getty
Brown feels Port Adelaide's premiership window has closed and with coach Ken Hinkley set to depart at the end of the season, now could be the time to overhaul the list.
"A couple of big thumpings away from home now for Port Adelaide and it is alarming," Brown told Nine's Sunday AFL Footy Show.
"I look at that and I go 'do they start the rebuild now, Port Adelaide?' I think most people believe Butters is going to leave at the end of 2026. Do you try and get something for him at the end of 2025 and start to clean out and regenerate your list with Tassie coming in?
"You've got Miles Bergman, many think he will be gone at the end of 2025, guys like Darcy Byrne-Jones you've got to make a decision on, Jeremy Finlayson, Lachie Jones, Esava Ratugolea, Jordon Sweet, Travis Boak has got the right to say when he finishes, I think he will finish up at the end of the season.
Dejected Port Adelaide players leaving the field after they were thumped by the Bulldogs. Getty
"So much at Port Adelaide could be changing and you've got Tassie coming in and they need to regenerate that list early, because there were some alarming signs.
"They're 4-4, so mathematically they're not out of a chance to play finals, but if they squeeze into the eight, I don't think they're going to beat anybody.
"(They should) have an eye on next year to get the picks they need."
There are reports Butters' management have met with Geelong representative, though the Dogs are considered the frontrunners given he grew up supporting them.
