Port coach hails special Butters ahead of milestone

Zak Butters has hit great heights on the way to his 100th AFL game milestone. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley knows it's an impossible debate.

Who has played the best first 100 games in the AFL?

Hinkley's prime midfield mover Zak Butters is poised to hit the century milestone on Friday night against St Kilda at Adelaide Oval.

"He has been pretty special for the footy club in a short period of time," Hinkley said of Butters.

"He's the vice-captain now of the football club. He's a great story, a great pick by our recruiting team who initially identified him at pick 12.

"Everything he does, from the time he's got here, it's no surprise that he's played a 'quick' 100 games.

"And it's no surprise that he's at a level now that we recognise him as one of the premier players of the competition."

Butters is averaging a career-best 28 disposals in his sixth season.

His new captain Connor Rozee, taken in the same 2018 draft, is averaging a career-best 27 disposals.

"It's hard to say there's too many that have been too much better than Zak or Connor," Hinkley said of the best-100-game debate.

"But most of the competition, these young players - I mean, gee, you've only got to look at the Harley Reid story that's coming out of West Coast.

"These really young, talented people who come through now, they do play a really high level as soon as they arrive."

Port (4-2) meet the Saints (2-4), who have lost consecutive games heading into the encounter.

"AFL footy is really so tough now that there's not a game we come into any differently," Hinkley said.

"And we don't make St Kilda out to be any different to any team we play the week after or the week before - it's just hard, you have just got to be ready to play."

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store