$51k and Rising: AFL’s Most Sought-After Player Amasses Record Fines

Zak Butters might have seen his $1,500 fine for abusing an umpire overturned at the tribunal on Monday night, but a separate penalty from round six has offset those gains. He continues to extend his record as the most fined player in the league’s history.

In round six, he received a $1,000 fine for striking Hawthorn forward Sam Butler, bringing his career total of fines to a staggering $51,125—his 23rd offence to date.

The Port Adelaide dynamo is undeniably quite fiery on the field. Known for his aggressive playing style, he wears his heart on his sleeve and isn’t shy about throwing himself into the fray during contests.

That intensity boiled over when he was reported for abuse towards umpire Nick Foot. Although the penalty was ultimately quashed, it was due to a legal loophole rather than a clean bill of health regarding his actions.

Disregarding that sanction, Butters has already been fined twice this season. Besides the incident with Butler, he was hit with a $1,500 fine for his involvement in a melee during round three, pushing his cumulative fines beyond the $50,000 mark.

Recognised as one of the league’s top midfielders, Butters has clinched three consecutive best and fairest awards at Port Adelaide and was named the AFL Coaches Association player of the year in 2023.

Accumulating over $51,000 in fines from just 23 offences is a remarkable ‘achievement’. GWS captain Toby Greene trails closely behind him with $48,850, albeit from 31 fines.

Early in the 2025 season, Butters incurred a hefty fine of $4,125 for instigating a melee and then participating in a separate clash.

2024 was particularly tough for him, with fines amounting to $1,875 for engaging in a melee against Hawthorn, $6,250 for an off-the-ball bump (also against Hawthorn), $6,250 for a strike on Brisbane’s Jarrod Berry, $5,000 for a bump on Richmond’s James Trezise, and another $1,875 for careless contact with an umpire.

In total, 2024 cost him a staggering $21,250.

Remarkably, despite being the only player in V/AFL history to accumulate over $50,000 in fines, Butters has only served suspensions for two incidents during his entire career.

He faced a two-match suspension for a rough conduct bump against North Melbourne in 2020 and a one-match suspension for a bump on GWS’s Tom Green in 2024.

Although he has taken a financial hit, he has remarkably only missed three games overall due to suspension.

Butters is expected to quickly recover any lost earnings with his next contract.

Set to become a free agent at the end of the 2026 season, the 25-year-old is on track to be one of the most highly sought-after players in the game.

There are strong suggestions he could return to Victoria, with nearly every team eager to secure his skills.

Butters might command offers reaching as high as $2 million per season. Port Adelaide has made it clear they will match any rival club’s offer for him, as he is classified as a restricted free agent.

This would necessitate his preferred team to negotiate a trade with the Power to facilitate the move.

Unfortunately, clubs won’t be able to foot the bill for his future fines.

At only 25 years old, Butters still has plenty of time left in his career to increase that $51,000 fine tally.