It’s been an ugly day for Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters.
Just before half-time in the Power’s clash with Brisbane, Butters found himself in a heated exchange with Brisbane players after he gave rival midfielder Jarrod Berry an off-the-ball hit in the stomach.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Zak Butters and Jarrod Berry tangle in AFL clash.
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As Berry trotted past Butters, the hot-headed Port gun whacked him in the guts, forcing Berry to double over and drop to the ground.
The action is certain to come under scrutiny from the AFL’s match review officer and the game’s commentators were less than impressed.
“Butters is giving (Berry) a bit of feedback about what happened so they have obviously clashed,” Fox Footy commentator Cam Mooney said.
And Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton was left scratching his head.
“This is the thing … Butters is such a good player,” Brereton said.
“If he was in my team I would say, ‘Leave it to us big ugly blokes to fight your battles, you just play footy’.”
Things between the players bubbled away after the incident as they headed into the rooms for the long break.
Former Adelaide Crows champion Mark Ricciuto said Butters may have thought there was not much in it.
“I think Butters is saying, ‘I didn’t even hardly touch ya’.”
Brereton agreed, but said: “He might have to say that at the tribunal.”
During the week Butters was in at the tribunal after whacking GWS midfielder Tom Green in the face in another off-the-ball incident.
He had his one-match ban for striking overturned, but now might have another appearance in consecutive weeks.
On the other side of half-time, Butters then left field in the pain after what appeared to be an innocuous tackle.
“It doesn’t look like much but somehow that’s really hurt him,” Mooney said.
“It just looks at the moment that he’s in a bit of trouble.”
Ricciuto said it appeared Butters had taken the injury into the game.
“There was nothing in it,” he said.
Commentator Kelli Underwood said: “It’s been a dirty day for Port Adelaide and they’re dropping like flies.”
Butters later returned to the field and, despite the drama, was Port’s leading ball-winner for the game.
It was an embarrassing afternoon for the Power who were expected to bounce back after last week’s disappointing loss.
But, even though the match was played at Adelaide Oval, the Lions had a day out and completely destroyed the Power.
The Lions are starting to return to form after their sluggish start to the year.
The win put them briefly inside the eight but they will drop out when the round is completed.
As for Port, they are sliding down the ladder and are now clinging on to their spot in the top half.
