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‘In my corner’: Power star’s unlikely adviser

AFL Rd 1 - Port Adelaide v Brisbane
Dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale (right) has been helping Port Adelaide star Zak Butters with tips on how to deal with a tag. Picture: Sarah Reed / Getty Images

Port Adelaide vice-captain Zak Butters has been picking the brain of rival midfield star Lachie Neale as he prepares for a battle with Sydney tagger James Jordon on Friday.

Butters said the dual Brownlow medallist had been a helpful source of advice for dealing with opposition attention this season after being tagged almost weekly for Brisbane.

The Power midfielder did not receive a hard tag in the semi-final win over Hawthorn as he fought for 17 disposals and five clearances while battling sore ribs.

He said he would be prepared for a match-up with Jordon this time after he was allowed to rack up 30 possessions in Port’s 112-point round 21 demolition of the Swans.

“They’ve looked at doing that at stages this year with James Jordon … he’s a pretty hard player to play against, whether he comes to me or Hornet or Connor, I feel like there’s a few in there who he could go to at different stages,” Butters said.

Giants v Brisbane - Semi Final 14.9.24
Tagged for most of the season, Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale (left) has been helping Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters with plans to deal with close checking. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“That’s something that we’ll be expecting, so if they choose to do that, we’ll be ready for it.

“Teams have sort of come with that plan, and to be fair, it’s probably been back in the game over the majority of the years for a lot of different players.”

Butters said Brisbane’s co-captain had provided a good model for dealing with shutdown opponents after he again grappled with Giants speedster Toby Bedford in Saturday’s semi-final.

“Seeing Lachie Neale with (the tag) again on the weekend, he’s one I’ve looked up to throughout the year, and probably the last three or four years he’s dealt with it most weeks, more than most,” Butters said.

“I had a few little chats to him over time and he’s given me some good advice … I feel like I’ve got some good plans in place and some good people in my corner to help me out, but at the end of the day it’s up to me to go out there and compete, fight hard and help my team win.”

Port Training
Butters says he’s ‘still in a little bit of pain’ after training at Alberton on Tuesday while battling sore ribs. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Butters said he was still in “a little bit of pain” with his ribs but there would be opponents quietly dealing with similar issues and still expected to perform in the prelims.

“I feel like I’m in pain most weekends, so nothing new there,” he said.

“There’s probably plenty of players going through their own injuries and dealing with things as well.”

He said Power coach Ken Hinkley had immediately apologised to players in the rooms for his post-game altercation with the Hawks that cost the club a $20,000 fine.

“Kenny addressed it straight after the game with us in the rooms after the game. He put his hand up and apologised just like he did publicly as well,” Butters said.

“He’s a passionate guy, and sometimes you get caught up in the waves and you don’t quite know what you’re saying and what you’re doing.

“He’s still late 50s I think … he’s still learning as well. I’m sure if he had his time again, he’d be better in that situation.”