The AFL Players’ Association has issued the following statement attributed to AFLPA CEO, James Gallagher:

“We are deeply disappointed by last night’s Tribunal outcome for Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters.

“A misunderstanding about what was said on field should have been resolved in the aftermath of the match, not referred to the Tribunal.

“The Tribunal determining not to accept all of the evidence consistent with Zak’s version of events, including testimony of Zak’s teammate Ollie Wines, nor have sufficient doubt when upholding a charge is deeply concerning.

“In the off-season, we made it clear to the AFL that we would closely monitor the Tribunal’s decisions during 2026 given concerns raised by players in recent seasons. It is important that all participants in the game, but most importantly the players, have confidence in the disciplinary system to which they’re subjected.

“We’ve offered our full support to Zak and Port Adelaide in exploring their options to appeal.”