Zak Butters suspended for hitting Tom Green, Port Adelaide vs. GWS Giants, Video, Match Report, News, News

Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters must face the tribunal after serving a one-match suspension for striking to keep his Brownlow Medal chances alive.

Butters was charged with a blow to the palm of his hand against GWS midfielder Tom Green during the Power’s loss on Sunday.

The incident was deemed intentional because it occurred off the ball, had low impact and high physical contact, and resulted in a one-match suspension.

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Crucially, it would mean he would miss Saturday’s crucial clash with Brisbane, but Butters is right in the thick of the race for the Brownlow seat – not one of the top candidates, but an outsider who has probably attracted double-digit ratings so far.

The Power said they will “reconsider overnight” their position on both Butters’ suspension and the three-week SANFL ban imposed on Charlie Dixon.

“I think Zak Butters will have some explaining to do over the course of the week,” Fox Footy’s Nick Dal Santo said in commentary following the incident.

“It’s an open hand. A palm that comes off the shoulder and hits Tom Green in the face, so they’re going to look at that very, very closely.”

Commentator Dwayne Russell added: “He got lucky earlier in the year, Zak Butters. He’s still eligible for the Brownlow after getting lucky with the head-high kick earlier in the season.

“They have had some defensive moves this season that, in the MRO’s estimation, bounced too high.”

In other match reports, North Melbourne’s Kallan Dawson was offered a one-week suspension for punching Collingwood’s Jack Crisp.