The Dispute Over Zak Butters’ Alleged Comments
AFL umpire Nick Foot has claimed that he overheard Port Adelaide star Zak Butters say, “How much are they paying you?” before he awarded a 50-metre penalty and reported him for abusive language. Butters, however, maintains that he did not utter anything offensive to Foot beyond questioning why a free kick was given to St Kilda’s Mitch Owens for a ruck infringement.
The incident has escalated to the point where it is now being referred directly to the AFL Tribunal because the microphones worn by the umpires did not capture the exchange. According to anonymous competition sources, the umpiring community believes the league should support Foot in pursuing the charge.
Foot paid a 50-metre penalty against Port Adelaide, which resulted in a St Kilda goal. He can be heard telling Butters that he had been reported for abusive language as they made their way back to the centre after Owens scored the goal.
Technology and Communication Challenges
The technology used by umpires is designed to assist them in communicating with each other and receiving instructions from players, but it does not always pick up what players say. Port Adelaide has vowed to defend Butters “in the strongest possible way.”
In a statement, the club said: “Port Adelaide believes the words used by Butters were misheard and misconstrued from what was actually said. Acting club captain Butters is unambiguously adamant on what was said, and the club strongly supports him and his position.”
Former club captain and Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines was standing next to Butters and Foot at the time of the exchange and will provide a witness statement in support of Butters.
Umpire’s Side Gig
Separately, Foot is employed by a major betting company as a horse racing analyst. His employment with Sportsbet was approved by the AFL. Foot appears as an analyst on Get On, a Sportsbet-affiliated racing show that airs on Racing.com and Sportsbet platforms.
In endorsing his employment outside of umpiring, the AFL last year stated that if Foot’s work had “anything to do with football in any capacity, it wouldn’t have been approved.” A spokesperson added, “He has nothing to do with football, he is not working at or around (football) with Sportsbet. He is doing content on racing, and nothing to do with football.”
Match Review Officer Findings
In the match review officer findings, the AFL stated: “Zak Butters of Port Adelaide has been referred directly to the AFL Tribunal after being charged with Abusive and Insulting Language Towards an Umpire. Following the match day report during the Third Quarter of Sunday’s match, it is alleged that Butters said to Umpire Nick Foot ‘How much are they paying you?’ The exchange was not picked up on the umpire’s microphone.”
Butters defended his conduct immediately after the game at Adelaide Oval. “I’d love to know the language that I said because I went up to him after the game and obviously just to have a chat, like any two humans do,” Butters said when interviewed by Channel Seven. “He said he didn’t want to speak to me. All I said was ‘How was that a free kick?’ He gave it 50, and said I’m on report.”
Port Adelaide Statement
Port Adelaide reiterated its stance: “Port Adelaide believes the words used by Butters were misheard and misconstrued from what was actually said. Acting club captain Butters is unambiguously adamant on what was said and the club strongly supports him and his position … Ollie Wines was standing next to Butters and Foot at the time of the exchange and will provide a witness statement in support of Butters.”
Wines has backed Butters’ version of events. The tribunal would not normally be convened to deal with such a matter, which usually results in a fine, but Butters is adamant he wants to contest the charge.
Meanwhile, Geelong’s Mark O’Connor was offered a one-match suspension.
Collingwood’s Resilience
Collingwood star Darcy Cameron has dismissed fears that the ageing Magpies have fallen off a cliff, as his captain declares a tilt at a premiership is still within reach, provided their scoring woes are fixed.
The Magpies have slipped to 13th on the ladder, having dropped their past two games, including managing just five goals in a low-scoring, six-point loss to Fremantle in the wet on Friday night when their limited options inside attacking 50 were exposed again.
They average just 69.6 points (16 less than 2025) and 10 goals per game this season – only winless Richmond are worse in each category.
This latest defeat prompted former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, now a commentator, to declare on SEN: “They’re not on the cliff, they’ve gone over the edge, and they’re just holding on with their fingernails.”
Cameron rubbished that suggestion on Monday, pointing to the Magpies’ finals runs under coach Craig McRae.
Key Players and Strategy
Skipper Darcy Moore, on the mend from a hamstring strain but still without a set return date, was even more bullish. “We probably, like I said before, have a bit of work to do. We certainly feel like we have got to develop as the season goes on. That is not necessarily a bad thing for us,” Moore said.
The Magpies go into Thursday night having won seven of their past eight games against Carlton. But they will be without Jordan De Goey, after the veteran midfielder was concussed against the Dockers, while star playmaker Nick Daicos continues to manage a corked calf.
Cripps’ Controversial Decision
Carlton captain Patrick Cripps has defended the contentious decision to start him on the bench in the second quarter against Adelaide, despite his absence hurting the Blues in what was to prove their fourth defeat of the season.
Cripps was back to his best in the first term against the Crows last Thursday, his 12 disposals, six clearances and five tackles helping the visiting Blues to seven goals. But, in a mystifying decision, he was benched for the opening minutes of the second quarter, the Crows winning the first five clearances and booting three goals in three minutes to take control.
Cripps then rejoined the fray, but the Crows still booted another goal, a seven-point deficit soon becoming a 23-point lead, a pivotal burst in their 28-point win.
Speaking at the annual Peter MacCallum Cup breakfast on Monday ahead of the Thursday night clash against Collingwood, Cripps said he endorsed the decision made by coach Michael Voss.
“That’s just part of the plan, so the coaches put a plan together. We just back it in,” Cripps, who nursed a sore hand in the game, said.
Moving Forward
While the Blues were beaten, it was arguably their best performance of the season. They won overall clearances, centre clearances, and inside-50s, while finally winning a fourth term. Having made the bold call to axe reigning best and fairest George Hewett, they had more players rotate through the midfield, although it was no surprise that Cripps and Sam Walsh, the latter despite a miserable second quarter of three disposals, were their most productive.
After a torrid month, the 16th-placed Blues, seemingly with a more attacking game plan, now prepare for a wounded Collingwood, but this great rivalry has been lop-sided in favour of the Magpies for years.
