Cornes: Butters could do a Bergman backflip

Never say never.

That’s the message from Chad Cornes just a day after saying he thought Zak Butters was 99 per cent out the door at Port Adelaide as speculation over his future continues.

In what stands to be the biggest free agency story of the season, Butters and hs Power colleagues cannot get through a media opportunity without being asked about the super star’s future.

Cornes, who worked alongside Butters until the end of the 2025 season remains convinced he will seek a move back to Victoria, but said a backflip s never off the cards citing the 11th hour change of heart Miles Bergman had.

Throughout the 2025 season, everything pointed to the 23-year-old returning to Victoria with the Bulldogs, Geelong and St Kilda understood to have pitched him a deal.

Instead, Bergman accepted a two-year extension to take him to free agency at the end of 2027. Cornes believes the same could happen with Butters.

“You’re not sure what he’s going to do,” Cornes said on SENSA. “He could have a change of heart any time of year. Kenny (Hinkley) was certain Bergman was absolutely gone, I don’t know what happened to change his mind but it could happen with Buttsy.

“He is top three in the AFL. See the year out, treat him as you aways have and see what happens.”

Buttsy will do the right thing by the club. He will see out his contract.”

Port Adelaide head coach Josh Carr and GM of Football Ben Rutten weighed in on where they sit ahead of the superstar's crucial decision.

Many are forecasting the three-peat John Cahill Medallist will depart Alberton later this year in favour of returning home. However, both Rutten and Carr are doing their part to remain focused on the season ahead.

“Our stance with Zak, like it is with all of our players – our focus is not necessarily on getting Zak’s signature,” Rutten told SEN Breakfast.

“We love Zak and we’d love him to stay, but it’s about how we can provide the best environment at the footy club.

“Create standards, create environment, create opportunity for all of our players, so when it comes to that decision, when you’re out of contract, whoever it is, that they want to stay because they want to be a part of something.

“They want to be part of something special, they feel valued and they feel like the Port Adelaide footy club is going to make them better.

“Zak is going to be a story, it’s going to be a talking point, but everything we’ve seen from Zak so far in terms of his commitment, his investment to the footy club, his investment with his teammates… that’s all we can ask from him at the moment – he just tips all in and we get the best version of himself.

“So far, we’re seeing that.”

Given the weight on the decision, Carr is confident that Butters will remain in open communication with the club going forward, to ensure the best route going forward for both himself and Port Adelaide themselves.

“I think Zak is always having honest conversations,” he said.

“I don’t think he’ll keep us in the dark with what he’s thinking and the thoughts he’s going through.

“He has always been really open with me in our discussions and what that looks like. ‘Crippa’ (Jason Cripps, list manager) is planning for everything, so we’ll get to the end of the year and hopefully he’s signed.

“If he hasn’t, we’ve planned, and we’ll understand where he’s at.”

Earlier this week, former Port Adelaide assistant coach Chad Cornes stated that Butters is a “99 per cent” chance of leaving the club in favour of returning home.

While the club understands the pull towards a homecoming, officials can only act on what they witness first hand.

“I’m not privy to that,” Rutten said.

“As I said, we can only go off what we’re seeing at the moment. Josh has got a great relationship with him, and he’s been pretty transparent with us as well.

“We also understand the landscape of AFL footy, so that’s going to be our approach for the short term.

“Do the best we can in terms of creating environment and Zak’s fully committed to what we’re doing.”

Earlier, Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson lifted the lid on how the club will handle the star's relentless speculation from the top.

“Zak is a star I do think the story will be big outside the club,” Richardson told SEN Sportsday. “Inside the club these things are less so.

“Our focus has to be on creating a program that provides all out players the opportunity to perform at their best.

“If you do that then those decisions take care of themselves. It’s a big decision for Zak it’s about more than footy. Our approach is about the program and the people.

“I think you have to know the people really well. Josh has built a strong relationship with Zak, our approach is to leave the decision to them, and you focus on the things you can control.”

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.

Despite remaining contract uncertainty, Port has reinstated trust in Butters, granting him the vice-captaincy alongside Willem Drew ahead of the 2026 season.

Club captain Connor Rozee insists he has full faith in his teammate ahead of a crucial year for the club.

“I think that sort of stuff gets blown out of proportion outside of the footy club,” Rozee told SEN Breakfast last week. “We know that he is fully invested for this year.

“We will get to the end of the year or whenever that stuff gets sorted out and they will have to talk through that, but at the moment our playing group has full trust in him, that he is here for the right reasons.

“He is a great role model for all of our younger players as well, so I’m really excited to have him as a part of the leadership group again.”