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Hinkley weighs in on “challenging” Butters decision
Andrew Slevison • February 5th, 2026 10:36 am
Ken Hinkley is unsure if Zak Butters will continue his career at Port Adelaide.
Butters, 25, is out of contract this year and will be the target for several Victorian clubs including the Western Bulldogs, Geelong and Hawthorn, among others.
Many are forecasting the three-peat John Cahill Medallist will depart Alberton later this year - including former Port assistant Chad Cornes - but Hinkley admits he isn’t too sure which way it will go.
“I reckon it’s going to be a question I get asked a bit, and I’ve got a really clear answer on Zak,” Hinkley said on SEN Breakfast.
“Zak loves home, there’s no doubt about that. He loves his family, he loves his home, but he loves his footy club. He loves Port Adelaide and he loves his teammates.
“He’s got a really challenging decision. I’ve heard Zak say this himself this pre-season that it’s not a decision that he will make quickly or lightly.
“He will make it somewhere near the end of the year, it might even be right at the end of the year.
“I think he’s going to have a real challenge with either one - leaving Port Adelaide or going home.”
Hinkley, who coached Butters for the first seven years of his career, is confident that the star midfielder will be paid handsomely either decision he makes.
And he will be worth every cent.
“What he won’t have is any lack of income,” Hinkley added.
“You are the beneficiary of the market you live in. For him the market has gone gangbusters, it’s blown the roof, it’s taken off.
“Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has taken off over $2 million and those sort of numbers. If that’s what the numbers are then Zak Butters is going to be at the very top of those numbers.
“The highest paid players deserve every bit they get. The game has grown unbelievably, it is so big now and the best players deserve the best money.
“You’ve got to have your stars and your stars have got to get paid like stars, and $2 million is the new normal for the stars.”
Butters will become a restricted free agent at season’s end and has a massive decision to make given his standing in the game as one of the very elite midfielders.
His old coach Hinkley can be heard on SEN’s Sportsday from Monday next week.
